When it comes to professional athletes, it’s natural to think that baseball players make the most money. After all, baseball has been around since the 19th century and is widely considered to be America’s pastime. But do baseball players really make the most money among professional athletes? Let’s take a look.
Baseball Salaries
Baseball players’ salaries have grown significantly over the years. In 2020, the average salary for a Major League Baseball (MLB) player was $4.36 million. The highest-paid player in the league was Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who earned more than $36 million that year.
The minimum salary in MLB is much lower than the average, however. In 2021, the minimum salary for MLB players is $570,500. That’s still a significant amount of money, but it’s significantly less than the average salary.
Other Professional Sports Salaries
Other professional sports leagues also pay their players well. The average salary for a National Basketball Association (NBA) player in 2020 was $7.7 million. The highest-paid NBA player was Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, who earned more than $88 million that year.
The average salary for a National Hockey League (NHL) player in 2020 was $3.3 million. The highest-paid NHL player was Montreal Canadiens forward Shea Weber, who earned more than $14 million that year.
The average salary for a National Football League (NFL) player in 2020 was $2.7 million. The highest-paid NFL player was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who earned more than $45 million that year.
Endorsements
Endorsements are another way that professional athletes can make money. Many athletes sign deals with companies to use their image or likeness in advertisements or promotional materials. Endorsement deals can be lucrative for athletes, especially for those who are well-known or have a large fanbase.
For example, LeBron James is one of the most well-known athletes in the world and has endorsement deals with Nike, Coca-Cola, and Beats by Dre. His endorsement deals are estimated to be worth more than $60 million per year.
MLB vs. Other Professional Sports
So do baseball players make the most money among professional athletes? The answer is complicated. While the average salary in MLB is higher than the average salary in other professional sports leagues, the highest-paid players in the other leagues often make more than the highest-paid players in MLB.
In addition, many athletes in other sports have lucrative endorsement deals that MLB players do not. Therefore, it’s difficult to definitively say that baseball players make the most money among professional athletes.
The Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on professional sports, including MLB. In 2020, MLB teams had to reduce their salaries due to the pandemic, and some players took pay cuts.
The pandemic also had an impact on the salaries of players in other professional sports leagues. The NBA and NHL both had to reduce the salaries of their players, and the NFL had to delay the start of its season.
The Future of Salaries
It’s difficult to predict what will happen with professional sports salaries in the future. Some experts believe that salaries will continue to rise, while others believe that the pandemic will cause salaries to decrease.
The amount of money that professional athletes make in the future will depend on many factors, including the success of the leagues, the popularity of the sport, and the amount of revenue generated.
Conclusion
It’s impossible to definitively say that baseball players make the most money among professional athletes. While the average salary in MLB is higher than the average salary in other professional sports leagues, the highest-paid players in the other leagues often make more than the highest-paid players in MLB.
In addition, many athletes in other sports have lucrative endorsement deals that MLB players do not. The amount of money that professional athletes make in the future will depend on many factors, including the success of the leagues, the popularity of the sport, and the amount of revenue generated.