Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-21
SEGE AT LARGE
Willie Rotes Place
In$1oo,ooocIoss

GOOD NoN-PARTISAN guess would be that Willie
Mays 81 and with problem more complex than an
occasional batting slump, probably is enjoying life
much as another 100000 President Kennedy
Compared to JFKs several residences Willie has only
two but they formidable From April through Septem-
Der Willie usually be found playing centerfield for the
Giants In the off he roughs 1t in his little
version of Glen Ora $4,000 pad high atop suburban
San Francisco hill.
The President has the decided advantage Of fixed
income, guaranteed for a minimum of four years His
salary is not dependent his batting average Cuba,
Berlin Laos u. S. Steel Congress skrmish with
Barry Goldwater.
MAYS, ON THE OTHER hand, must negotiate an
nualy with Horace Stoneham, owner of the Giants In
IL Of serfdom the pleasure has been mostly wies
Yesterday he sugged his way into the bapayers charmed
financial circle. He became hundred-grander.
The Giants in the customary manner of teams did
not the exact amount Mays would be paid for
six months of skilled labor this season. However they
mitted he was in "the 100000 bracket"
If any ballpayers ever we're worth 100000 Willie
Mays certainly belongs to that group He more to
the Giants than Mickey Mantle means to the Yankees.
1t is doubtful If there has been a better player in
years than Willie. With sound leg, Mantle might tie
him for the honor but Mckeys unpredictable health
initiates against him in headto-head showdown with
Mays in two-man race for MVP.
WHEN THE GIANTS and Dodgers were operating in
New York. competing with the Yankees at the box office
Lnere were enueSS arguments over winch Team nao
best centereder in town. the Dodgers with Duke snder
the Yankees with Mantle or the Giants with Mays
When the early comparisons we're made, Mays was
minimum salaried player barely making more than the
5000 mandatory pay while Mantle and Snider already
cruising in the rarfed air Of financial solvency.
All three still are playing snider only on limited
basis but yearly wage the answer Mays must be the
best He's the only of the three to make 100000
for catching and hitting baseball 81
Some may disagree to the relative merits Of Mays
and Others but long Horace stoneham rates him
tops Willie is happy stoneham is his paymaster
WILLIE THUS BECOMES only the third honest-to-
goodness 100000 year in baseball That is his 100
grand based completely his ballpayng earnings not
from arrangements which often include attendance
clauses and Endorsements.
Joe DiMaggio the last truly great player until Mays
and Stan Musal the other two Ted williams salary
at time reported at $125000 but it wasn't true
On Tom Yawkeys books williams pay as a Boston out
fielder listed higher than 5000 which is not
bad listing in itself.
Yawkey the Mr. Moneybags Of Fenway Park had other
arrangements with williams which may have boosted his
annual collection to much $25OO0 but Teds base
pay baplayer put him in the 100-grand class.
Precisely what williams did to the additional loot
from the boss who idolzed him made clear
Yawkey avid hunter probably admired his No. Boys
ability to shoot pigeons and sarings off the cenerfied
wall Of Fenway Park Yawkey also dislikes sports writer's
Teds innate ability to keep the press corps seamng also
probably earned him few extra pesos.
$50
SEVERAL SEASONS AGO Cardinals owner Gussie
Busch who had everything except 100000 ball
player finally got that too He gave his Stan Musis
$4,000 raise and thus pleased Musals vanity and his
bank account with stroke of his pen.
Whenever the subject of Musial crashing the 100
grand barrier brought up Frank Lanes presence the
former general manager Of the Cardinals invariably
recites the story of secretary long in the employ of the
Cards Lane several times tried to boost her salary $40
month to bring 1t up to $3.50.
Each time Busch and the Cards brass rejected Lanes
suggestion When Busch decided to pay Musal 100000
it necessary for Lane to draw up contract He
already had prepared for Musals signature calling
for 100000
Ironically" Lane tells it, "the lady who refused
$40 month raise had to prepare the contract giving
Musia $4,000 year raise"