Evening star., 1961-12-13
Mantle Signs 90 Contract
For Estimated $4,000
Muris to Dicker
For Salary in
Similar Bracket

SlmllQr Bracket |
NEW YORK, Dec. 13 (AP).-I
Mickey Mantle, slugging out
fielder of the New York |
Yankees, signed his 1862 con-
tract with baseball's world |
champions today. Terms we're
not revealed, but it was eSti- !
mated he will receive $4,000, |
an increase of $4,000 over last |
season.
The 30-year-old Oklahoman
had one of his better years in
1861. his 10th with the Yankees.
He hit 81 home runs, second to
teammate Roger MariS record
smashing 81, and batted .317,
fourth highest in the American
League. Mantle drove in 1913
runs.
Two years ago, the husky
Switcn-hitter was a holdout |
and did not sign until March
II, almost two weeks after the |
start of spring training. Last |
year, he rejected the Yank's
initial offer. then came to
terms on January 16.
Tries Maris Tomorrow
General Manager Roy Ha-
mey. in announcing the signing
OF Mantle, said his salary has
reached Ruth's level" At one
time Babe Ruth was paid $780,
900 a year, indicating this is
now Nantes pay.
Hamey said he would open
negotiations tomorrow with
Roger Maris, the other half of
the Yankees mighty M&M
combination.
And 1 wouldn't be surprised
if I sign him tomorrow"
Hamey said.
Maris is known to have set
his sights on equaling Mantle's
pay, and his 81 home runs in
162 games Ruth hit 60 in 154)
give him a powerful lever. How
ever, informed guesses are that
MariS will settle for around
$65.000 to $4,000.
Mantle was the first of the
world championship Yankees
to sign for 1862.
Ford Also on List
Mantle, MariS and Pitcher
Whitley Ford are in New York
to push a new merchandising
project, and all concerned are
taking advantage of the oppor- !.
tunity to dispose of the salary
business.
Mantle, whose $4,000 made
him the highest paid player in
the American League last year,
had a preliminary conference
with Hamey yesterday before
finishing off the business today.
Prior to the start of negotia-
tionS, Hamey said he wouldn't
be surprised if the Yankees
payroll in 1862 hit $800,000-an
all-time high.
That would be bv far the
biggest outlay of salaries we
have ever had" the energetic .
general manager added today.
In the past, our salary figure
hasn't got much past the half
million-dollar mark-not even
in the Babe Ruth and Joe
DiMaggio days.
But now we have an un- J
usual situation. We have sew
eral players who have made !
outstanding records. They ex-
pect to be rewarded, and
rightly so.
Besides, we're in the big
gest city of the country and |,
we're champions. We're not |
complaining, understand. It's
a nice fix to be in"
Maris, whose 81 home runs
made him the most talked
about player possibly since the
days of Ruth, said he hasn't /
discussed money matters with |
his bosses yet, but expects to do
so at an early date. Ford. a Is
4 pitcher, said the same.
Won't Double Salary
Maris made a reported $45,-
900 last year and is said to be
900 last year and in shooting
for Nantes salary area is seek
ing to almost double his pay
check. Ford is certain to de-
mand a fat increase over his
$4,000.
"I'll tell you this" Hamey
said firmly, I'VE are not dou-
bling anybody's salary. It's our
policy to reward players for
good work, but this is a gradual
and continuing process, based |
in part on service to the club
over a span,
Remember, we also have fell
lows like Yogi Berra ($50,000)
Elston Howard, John Blanch-
ard and Luis Arroyo, to name
a few. All had good years and
made contributions to our sue
cess.
They'll want their rewards,
but I don't expect any salary
troubles. These fellows deliver
so do the Yankees. They
know it."