The price of greatness

Willie Mays playing for the Giants at San Francisco’s Seals Stadium

A few months before future Hall of Famer Willie Mays takes his first swings in 1958 at Seals Stadium as a San Francisco Giant, he signs a one-year contract 67 years ago today for $65,000.

The deal is the richest ever handed out by the Giants, who only a few months earlier end their 75-year stay in New York and move to California.

Even then, Mays – arguably baseball's best player at the time – is woefully underpaid compared to today’s players.

Fast forwarding, Mays’ $65,000 contract from 1958 would be worth $709,060 today – more than $50,000 less than the $760,000 minimum wage for rookies in 2025.

Of course, gasoline in 1958 costs only 30 cents per gallon, so there is that.

Still, paying $65,000 to the incomparable Willie Mays in 1958 seems a bit light, even when accounting for inflation between then and now.