Yogi Berra was an American professional baseball player and manager who had a net worth of $5 million. Yogi Berra played 19 seasons in the MLB and was an 18-time All-Star who won 10 World Series championships as a player, the most in MLB history. He played all but one of those years for the New York Yankees and is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in the history of baseball.

Early Life

Lawrence Peter Berra was born on May 12, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri, in a primarily Italian neighborhood called The Hill. His parents, Pietro and Paolina, were Italian immigrants. Yogi grew up across the street from his friend and later competitor Joe Garagiola Sr. Yogi attended St. Mary's High School and began playing baseball in local American Legion Baseball leagues. This is where he received the nickname "Yogi" from his friend Jack Maguire after a newsreel he saw about India in which he said Berra resembled a yogi from India while sitting around with his arms and legs crossed waiting to bat or looking sad after a loss.

Baseball Career

In 1942, both Yogi and his childhood friend Joe Garagiola were offered minor league contracts by the St. Louis Cardinals. The only problem was that Joe's contract came with a $500 bonus while Yogi's came with a $250 bonus. Yogi felt slighted and turned the contract down. He was quickly picked up by the New York Yankees who offered to match the $500 bonus that Garagiola received from the Cardinals.

Yogi played for the Norfolk Tars for a few years in the Development League before heading overseas to fight in WWII. After returning from the war, he played for the Newark Bears until he was called up to the Major Leagues in 1946. He would go on to become one of the most successful players and managers in baseball history. He was an All-Star selection 18 times while with the New York Yankees (15 of those All-Star selections occurred in consecutive years). He also won 13 World Series Championships as a player and manager (10 as a player, 3 as a manager). He is one of only six players to be named an AL MVP three times, and his Yankees' No. 8 is retired. As a player, Berra's peak salary was the $61,000 he received in 1961. That's the same as around $520,000 today after adjusting for inflation.

Yogi Berra had a career batting average of .285 to go along with 358 home runs and 1,430 runs batted in. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Berra is also an honoree of Monument Park in Yankee Stadium.

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Personal Life

Yogi Berra married Carmen Short in January 1949. The couple had three sons together and were longtime residents of Montclair, New Jersey. His son Dale played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. His son Tim played pro football for the Baltimore Colts during the 1974 season, and Larry played for three minor league teams in the New York Mets organization. Carmen passed away in March 2014 shortly after celebrating their 65th anniversary. Afterward, Yogi listed their Montclair home for sale at $888,000, a reference to his uniform number.

Yogi Berra passed away in his sleep at the age of 90 of natural causes on September 22, 2015.

Montclair Home

At the time of his death, Yogi lived in 4,500 square foot home in Montclair, New Jersey. About a year before his death, Yogi sold this home for $988,888.

Read more: Yogi Berra Net Worth

Tim Raines is a former American professional Baseball player who has a net worth of $12 million. During his baseball career, Tim Raines earned $35 million in salary. His highest-paid season was 1995 when he earned $3.7 million from the Chicago White Sox.

Tim Raines is best known for his 13 seasons playing with the MLB's Montreal Expos from 1979 to 1990. After that, he played with the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Florida Marlins before retiring in 2002. Since retiring from playing, Raines has served as a coach for many teams, including the White Sox and various minor league teams. In 2017 Raines was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on his 10th ballot.

Early Life and Education

Tim Raines was born on September 16, 1959 in Sanford, Florida as one of seven children of Florence and Ned. As a teenager, he went to Seminole High School, where he excelled in baseball, football, and track and field. Reportedly, he earned over 100 scholarship offers to play college football.

Montreal Expos, 1979-1990

In the 1977 MLB draft, Raines was selected in the fifth round by the Montreal Expos. He made his debut with the team as a pinch runner in 1979, playing in just six games. The following season, he played briefly as a second baseman before being switched to outfield. Raines had his breakout year in 1981, batting .304 and setting an MLB rookie record with 71 stolen bases despite the season being interrupted by the MLB strike. He quickly grew into a fan favorite due to his aggressive play on the basepaths. Raines performed less well in 1982, hitting .277; he was also struggling with a severe addiction to cocaine at the time, and entered treatment at the end of the season.

Following his poor 1982 season, Raines came back with a bang in 1983. That year, he set a franchise record of 133 runs and stole a career high of 90 bases. Raines was named Expos Player of the Year for his incredible season. He would go on to earn two more Expos Player of the Year honors in 1985 and 1986. In the latter year, Raines batted a career-high .334, the best in the National League, and won a Silver Slugger Award. After that season, he became a free agent. However, due to lack of interest from other teams, Raines signed a new three-year deal with the Expos in May of 1987. In his first game back, he scored a game-winning grand slam in the 10th inning. Raines had a terrific season, leading the Expos in multiple categories, including batting average, runs, and stolen bases. He continued playing with the team until the expiration of his contract in 1990.

Chicago White Sox

Raines was traded to the Chicago White Sox in late 1990. In his first season with the team, he batted only .268 but posted an on-base percentage of .359. Raines saw improvement in 1992 with a .294 batting average and a .380 on-base percentage. His best season with the White Sox was in 1993, when he hit .306 and 16 home runs despite missing many games due to injury. The White Sox ended up winning the AL Western Division title en route to an ALCS loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

New York Yankees

In late 1995, Raines was traded to the New York Yankees. His first season with the team saw a dream of his come true, as the Yankees won the World Series. Raines would win another World Series with the team in 1998, his third and final year as a Yankee. That season, he stole his 800th career base.

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Oakland Athletics

As a free agent, Raines signed with the Oakland Athletics in early 1999. He would only play briefly with the team, as he was diagnosed with lupus in late July and spent the rest of the year undergoing treatment and recovery.

Return to the Expos

Raines returned to his original team, the Expos, for the 2001 season. He saw limited playing time that year, but batted .308 with a .433 on-base percentage. Due to a shoulder injury, he underwent surgery at the end of May, and after that spent time with the Expos' Triple-A team the Ottawa Lynx. Raines returned to the majors in August.

Baltimore Orioles

At the end of the 2001 season, Raines was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, for which his son played. Consequently, they became the second father-and-son team ever to play for the same MLB team at the same time, following Ken Griffeys Sr. and Jr.

Florida Marlins

Raines spent his final season as an MLB player with the Florida Marlins in 2002.

Coaching Career

Raines had his first coaching gig in 2003 as manager of the Expos' affiliate team the Brevard County Manatees. He was promoted to the Expos the following year. After that, Raines coached for the White Sox from late 2004 to late 2006. In 2007, he served as the hitting coach for the minor-league Harrisburg Senators, and from 2009 to 2012 managed the Newark Bears. Raines subsequently became a minor league coach for the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2013.

Personal Life

In 1979, Raines wed his former high school classmate Virginia Hilton. The couple had two children, Tim Jr. and André, before divorcing. Raines went on to marry Shannon Watson in 2007 after he had moved to the Phoenix, Arizona area. Together, they have twin daughters named Ava and Amelie.

Read more: Tim Raines Net Worth

Tom Seaver was a retired Major League Baseball player who had a net worth of $10 million. Tom Seaver was best known for his time with the New York Mets, helping them turn from lovable losers into formidable foes, winning the World Series in 1969 on a team that would be later called the "Miracle Mets."

He was drafted by the LA Dodgers in 1965 but after asking for a $70,000 contract the team declined. He finally signed his first professional contract a year later, this time with the Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately, a complication caused this contract to be voided after it was alleged he was ineligible. Ironically, because he had turned pro he could not return to college. He eventually signed a contract with the Mets in 1967.

Seaver would go on to play for the Mets from 1967 to 1977, winning the World Series in 1969. He played a total of 13 seasons in the MLB, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

Seaver's record includes 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts and a 2.86 earned run average. This makes him one of the best starting pitchers in the history of baseball. In his two decade-long career, Tom Seaver won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, and three NL Cy Young Awards.

Known as "Tom Terrific," when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, he received the highest percentage ever recorded (98.84%) up to that point. He has the only plaque at Cooperstown wearing a New York Mets hat. Being the Mets' all-time leader in wins, Seaver, along with Gil Hodges, is the only Met player to have their jersey numbers retired by the team.

Career Earnings

During his career he earned around $6.6 million in total MLB salary. That's the same as around $16 million in today's dollars. He earned his highest single-season salary in his second-to-last season, earning $1.136 million from the Chicago White Sox.

Early Life

Tom Seaver was born on November 17, 1944 in Fresno, California to Betty and Charles. As an adolescent, he attended Fresno High School, where he was a pitcher on the school baseball team. Seaver also played basketball in high school.

Collegiate Career

Following six months of active duty in the US Marine Corps Reserve, Seaver attended Fresno City College. He was eventually recruited by the University of Southern California to play college baseball. However, the school couldn't decide if Seaver was worthy of a scholarship, so it sent him to Alaska to pitch for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks during the summer of 1964. His impressive performance on the team earned him the scholarship. At USC, Seaver helped the Trojans achieve a 10-2 record in 1965.

MLB Draft and Early Career

Although Seaver signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves in 1966, the contract was voided by Baseball Commissioner William Eckert due to USC having played two exhibition games that year, despite the fact Seaver didn't participate in those games. Consequently, he planned to finish his college season, but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA on account of him having already signed a professional contract. Outraged, Seaver's father threatened a lawsuit against Eckert, who responded by allowing Seaver to join another team that matched the Braves' offer. Ultimately, it was the New York Mets that were awarded his signing rights in a lottery drawing. Seaver began his professional career in the minors with the Mets affiliate Jacksonville Suns. He made his debut in the majors in 1967, and was named NL Rookie of the Year despite the Mets' last-place finish. The team performed only marginally better the next year.

The Miracle Mets

The Mets had their greatest season yet in 1969. With Seaver winning a league-high 25 games and his first Cy Young Award, the team made it to the World Series, and won the title over the Baltimore Orioles. The victorious team was dubbed the "Miracle Mets."

In 1970, Seaver set an MLB record by striking out the final ten batters in a win over the San Diego Padres. He finished that season as the NL leader in strikeouts, with 283. Seaver led the league in strikeouts again the following year, with 289, and did so again in 1973, 1975, and 1976. Moreover, he won two more Cy Young Awards, in 1973 and 1975. In the former year, the Mets made it back to the World Series, where they fell to the Oakland Athletics in seven games. Seaver's first tenure with the Mets ended in 1977 amid contract disagreements with Mets chairman M. Donald Grant.

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Trade to Cincinnati Reds

In one of two trades that was dubbed the "Midnight Massacre" by sports reporters in New York, Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1977. That season, he won 21 games, including a 5-1 win over his former team, the Mets, at Shea Stadium. In 1978, Seaver recorded a milestone by pitching the only no-hitter of his professional career, in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The following season, he helped the Reds win the Western Division. Seaver had one of his best years ever in the strike-shortened 1981 season, when he went 14-2 and recorded his 3,000th career strikeout, helping the Reds achieve the best record in the majors. However, he struggled in 1982 due to many injuries.

Return to the Mets

Seaver returned to the Mets for the 1983 season. Unfortunately, he was unable to replicate his past success with the team, going 9-14 for the season.

Chicago White Sox

In early 1984, the Chicago White Sox claimed Seaver from the Mets. He went on to play two-and-a-half seasons with the White Sox, recording his final shutout in July of 1985. The following month, Seaver recorded his 300th career win in a complete-game victory over the New York Yankees.

Boston Red Sox

Seaver spent his final MLB season with the Boston Red Sox in 1986. His final career win, which was his 311th in total, came in August against the Minnesota Twins. The Red Sox went on to face the Mets in the World Series; although a knee injury kept Seaver out of the tournament, he received a raucous ovation from fans before the start of Game 1. Ultimately, the Mets won the World Series. Seaver subsequently became a free agent after declining a new contract from the Red Sox.

Retirement

Due to a starting rotation badly impeded by injury, the Mets sought out Seaver for the 1987 season. He didn't sign a contract, but joined the club for some exhibition games. After performing poorly in the games, Seaver announced his retirement from the MLB.

Broadcasting Career

Following his retirement from playing, Seaver became a television color commentator for the Mets and the Yankees. Earlier, while still in the MLB, he had gained broadcasting experience as a television analyst for various World Series. Seaver continued to broadcast through the early 00s, serving as NBC's lead baseball color commentator and doing analysis for the Yankees and Mets on WPIX.

Personal Life

In 1966 Tom married Nancy Lynn McIntyre. They had two daughters together and lived on a 115-acre vineyard in Calistoga, California which they called Seaver Family Vineyards.

Seaver reportedly started suffering from memory loss in 2013. It was officially announced by his family in 2019 that he had dementia. At the end of August in 2020, Seaver passed away in his sleep from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.

Read more: Tom Seaver Net Worth

Will Clark is a retired American professional baseball player who has a net worth of $22 million. Will Clark is best-remembered as the first baseman for the San Francisco Giants from 1986 to 1993. Known as "Will the Thrill" or "The Thrill", Clark, a left-handed first baseman, earned MLB All-Star honors six times from 1988 through 1992, and again in 1994. He was the MVP of the 1989 NLCS, and won the Gold Glove Award in 1991. He is a two-time Silver Slugger (1989, 1991), and won the Golden Spikes Award in 1985. Three years later, in 1988, Clark was the National League RBI Champion. He finished his career with a .303 batting average, 284 home runs, and 1,205 runs batted in.

He also played on the U.S. men's national baseball team, winning a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Following his retirement, Clark worked in the front offices of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants. Clark is a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Early Life

William Nuschler Clark Jr. was born on March 13, 1964, in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he attended Jesuit High School. He played college baseball for Mississippi State University where he put together an illustrious career and was part of the Thunder and Lightning duo with Rafael Palmeiro. In 1983, he played for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was an All-Star. He also participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics where he won a silver medal and led the national team with a .429 batting average on nine hits with eight runs batted in and tied for the team lead with three home runs. In 1985, Clark was named an All-American by The Sporting News and the winner of the Golden Spikes Award. He grew up a fan of the Kansas City Royals and was actually drafted by the organization in the fourth round of the 1982 draft but chose not to sign.

Will Clark was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

MLB Career

Will Clark was drafted by the San Francisco Giants with the second overall pick in the 1985 MLB Draft. The left-handed first baseman earned MLB All-Star honors six times from 1988 through 1992, and again in 1994. He was the MVP of the 1989 NLCS, and won the Gold Glove Award in 1991. He was also a two-time Silver Slugger (1989, 1991). And in 1988, Clark led the National League in runs batted in. Clark had his No. 22 retired by the San Francisco Giants and was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. He is enshrined on the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame.

Clark finished his career with a .303 batting average, 284 home runs, and 1,205 runs batted in. After his playing career, he continued to be active in baseball in the Arizona Diamondbacks' front office and serving as a Special Assistant in the Giants' front office.

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Career Earnings

During his baseball career, Will Clark earned a total of $54.2 million in salary. That's the same as earning around $90 million in today's dollars. His highest single-season salary was the $6 million earned in his final year from the Orioles in 2000. That's the same as earning around $9 million today. Though, technically speaking the $5.6 million he earned in 1995 from the Texas Rangers is worth $9.66 million today after adjusting for inflation.

Personal Life

Will Clark married his wife, Lise White, in 1994. They had a son, Trey, in 1996, and two years later, he was diagnosed with autism. The couple later had a daughter, Ella. Will is a spokesman for Autism Speaks and Anova.

In 1999, Lisa had open heart surgery to fix a hole that had been undiagnosed since birth.

Louisiana Mansion

In 2007 Will paid an undisclosed amount for a one acre undeveloped property in a gated community in Prairieville, Louisiana. He proceeded to build a lavish 9,000 square foot mansion on the property.

Read more: Will Clark Net Worth

Pablo Sandoval is a Venezuelan professional baseball player who has a net worth of $40 million. Pablo Sandoval, AKA "Kung Fu Panda," is best known for his time with the San Francisco Giants in which he was a two-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion. He also played for the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves.

Early Life

Pablo Emilio Sandavol Reyes was born on August 11, 1986, in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, to Pablo Sr. and Amelia Sandoval. He grew up a fan of baseball following the careers of Omar Vizquel and Andres Galarraga. He was born left-handed but wanted to be able to play shortstop like Vizquel, so he taught himself how to throw right-handed as well. When Pablo went to the Dominican Republic for a scouting tournament in 2002, he caught the eye of major league scouts.

MLB Career

Pablo Sandoval was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2002, and he worked his way up through their minor league system before debuting with the major league team in 2008. The five-foot-10, 268-pounder was capable of playing first base, third base, and catcher but cemented himself as the Giants everyday third baseman in 2009. After batting .345 in just 41 games, Sandoval hit .330 with 25 home runs and 90 runs batted in during his first full season in MLB. But he struggled in 2010 and was benched for the playoffs during their World Series run. He lost weight before the next season and returned to form. In 2012, he was limited due to injuries but selected to his second-straight All-Star Game. And in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series, Sandoval joined Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Albert Pujols as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series Game. He was named the World Series Most Valuable Player as the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers. He finished the 2013 season with a batting average of .278 with 14 home runs and 79 RBIs over 141 games.

As a free agent in 2014, Pablo signed on with the Boston Red Sox. But due to poor performance, he was released in 2017. Sandoval rejoined the Giants for a second stint while the Red Sox remained responsible for paying his salary through the 2019 season. He then signed a minor league contract with the Giants in 2020 and made the team but was designated for assignment later in the year. He joined the Atlanta Braves in September 2020 and was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Eddie Rosario but was released by Cleveland immediately. Pablo played for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League in 2022. Sandoval also played in the Venezuelan Winter League during offseasons where he was named MVP in 2013 just months after being named the 2012 World Series MVP.

As of 2023, Pablo Sandoval's career batting average stood at .278 to go with 153 home runs and 639 runs batted in.

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Contracts & Career Earnings

In 2012, Pablo Sandoval signed a three-year, $17.15 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. Sandoval signed a five-year, $95 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in November 2014. He was released by the Red Sox in July 2017. When he was picked up by the Giants, the Red Sox were still on the hook for much of that $95 million contract. The Red Sox were actually paying $50 million for Pablo to play for another team.

Over his 13-year career to date, Pablo Sandoval has earned more than $116.6 million in salary alone.

Personal Life

Pablo Sandoval has a daughter from his first marriage. He divorced Yoletzade in 2010. He then married Yulimar Martins in December 2019. The Sandovals reside in Santa Monica, California.

Read more: Pablo Sandoval Net Worth

Hideki Matsui is a former Japanese professional baseball player who has a net worth of $60 million. During his MLB career alone, Hideki earned $83 million in salary.

Hideki Matsui spent the first ten seasons of his career in Japan with NPB's Yomiuri Giants, with which he won three Japan Series titles. During his Japanese career Hideki maintained a batting average of .304, hit a total of 332 home runs, and hit record of 889 RBIs. In Japan, he was a nine-time All-star, a three-time Japan Series champion, a three-time CL MVP, received the Best Nine Award eight times, is a three-time NPB All-star Game MVP, received the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize in both 2000 and 2003, was the Japan Series MVP in 2000, and earned the Matsutaro Shoriki Award in 2000.

After that, he joined the MLB's New York Yankees, with which he won the 2009 World Series. Matsui spent the final years of his professional baseball career with the MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays. His American career statistics include a batting average of .282, a total of 175 home runs, and an accumulation of 760 runs batted in. His American career highlights include being a two-time All-star in 2003 and 2004, a 2009 World Series champion, and the title of World Series MVP in 2009.

Early Life and Education

Hideki Matsui was born on June 12, 1974 in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan. As a teenager, he was recruited by Seiryo High School in Kanazawa. As a student, Matsui competed in four National High School Baseball Tournaments, and in 1992 drew major attention when he had five consecutive intentional walks in a single game. Although the strategy was considered unsportsmanlike, it successfully prevented Matsui's team from winning.

Yomiuri Giants

After leaving high school, Matsui was drafted by the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. Although his first three seasons with the team were mostly unremarkable, he was part of the Giants' Japan Series victory in 1994. Matsui had his breakout season in 1996 when he batted .314 with 38 home runs and 99 RBIs. He went on to become a huge star in NPB, leading the league in home runs and RBIs three times (1998, 2000, and 2002) and earning Japanese Central League MVP honors three times (1996, 2000, and 2002). Matsui also won two more Japan Series titles with the Giants, in 2000 and 2002. His streak of 1,250 consecutive games played was the second-longest in Japan's history.

New York Yankees

Following his ten-season tenure with the Yomiuri Giants, Matsui came to the United States and signed with the MLB's New York Yankees in late 2002. He went on to make his MLB debut in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 31, 2003. Later, at the Yankees home opener, Matsui hit a grand slam, making him the first Yankee ever to do so in his first game at Yankee Stadium. He finished the regular season with a .287 batting average, 16 home runs, and 106 RBIs. The Yankees advanced to the postseason, and finally to the World Series, where Matsui became the first Japanese player ever to hit a World Series home run. Ultimately, the Florida Marlins won the championship in six games. In the 2004 season, Matsui finished with a .298 batting average, 31 home runs, and 108 RBIs. The following season, he set MLB career highs with a .305 batting average and 116 RBIs. Matsui missed most of the 2006 season due to a wrist injury, but managed to bat .302 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs.

In the 2007 season, Matsui became the first Japanese player ever to hit 100 home runs in the MLB. Hobbled by injury the next season, he batted .295. Matsui came back strong in 2009, his final season with the Yankees. That year, he broke the team's record for single-season home runs by a designated hitter, with 26. The Yankees went on to play in the World Series against the defending champs the Philadelphia Phillies, with Matsui contributing three home runs and eight RBIs in his team's eventual six-game victory. For his performance, he received World Series MVP honors, making him the first Japanese-born player to win that distinction. Further, Matsui became only the third MLB player ever to bat .500 or above and hit three home runs in a single World Series, joining Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

In late 2009, Matsui signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He finished the regular season with a .274 batting average, 21 home runs, and 84 RBIs across 145 games. Matsui subsequently became a free agent, and in late 2010 was denied salary arbitration from the Angels.

Oakland Athletics

Staying in California, Matsui signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics at the end of 2010. In April of the ensuing season, he scored his 2,500^th hit, and in July recorded his 500^th home run.

Tampa Bay Rays

In the spring of 2012, Matsui signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and joined the team's Triple-A affiliate the Durham Bulls. About two weeks later, he was called up to the Rays for a game against the Chicago White Sox. Matsui went on to have a disappointing season, batting just .147 in his first two months. He was ultimately waived by the Rays at the start of August.

Retirement

Matsui ended his professional baseball career in the summer of 2013 after signing a one-day contract with the New York Yankees, and then formally retiring. The Yankees held a ceremony for him, as did the Japanese government in Tokyo. In early 2018, Matsui was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame as the youngest player ever, at the age of 43, to be inducted.

Personal Life

In March of 2008, Matsui announced that he had gotten married in a private ceremony in New York. He did not disclose the name of his wife, with whom he has two sons. They own an estate in Greenwich, Connecticut and an apartment in NYC's Upper West Side.

Read more: Hideki Matsui Net Worth

Gary Matthews Jr. is a retired American baseball player who has a net worth of $40 million.

Gary Matthews played for 9 teams in his 12-year career, including the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was an All-Star in 2006 and won a Gold Glove in 2000.

Matthews' best season was 2006, when he hit .283 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He also had a career-high .386 on-base percentage that season.

Matthews' career was hampered by injuries, and he never quite lived up to the expectations that many had for him when he signed a $50 million contract with the Angels in 2007. However, he was a solid player for most of his career, and he was a fan favorite wherever he went.

Career Stats

• Games played: 1,478
• At bats: 4,103
• Hits: 1,056
• Home runs: 108
• Runs batted in: 484
• Stolen bases: 95
• Batting average: .257
• On-base percentage: .332
• Slugging percentage: .405
• OPS: .737
• WAR: 14.2

Early Life

Gary Matthews Jr. was born on August 25, 1974, in San Francisco, California. Matthews' affinity for baseball was influenced early on by his father, Gary Matthews Sr., who was a former professional baseball player and 1973 National League Rookie of the Year. As a child, Matthews Jr. spent considerable time around baseball diamonds, observing professional players and refining his skills. He attended Granada Hills High School in Los Angeles, where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete but showed a particular flair for baseball.

Professional Debut and Early Career

Matthews Jr. was first drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 13th round of the 1993 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Padres in June 1999, but struggled to find a regular spot in the starting lineup and was traded to the Chicago Cubs the following year.

Rise to Prominence

Matthews Jr.'s career truly began to take off when he joined the Texas Rangers in 2004. During his three seasons with the Rangers, Matthews Jr. displayed significant improvement both as an outfielder and as a batter. His impressive performance in the 2006 season, where he batted .313 with 19 home runs and 79 RBIs, resulted in his first and only selection to the All-Star team.

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The Angels Era and Later Years

In 2007, following his breakout season, Matthews Jr. signed a five-year, $50 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This move marked the peak of his career, both in terms of performance and earnings. However, he struggled to maintain the high level of play he had shown with the Rangers, and he was traded to the New York Mets in 2010. After a brief stint with the Mets, Matthews Jr. retired from professional baseball in 2011.

Salary and Career Earnings

Matthews Jr.'s earnings rose steadily throughout his career, reflecting his growing prominence in the league. His most significant contract was the five-year deal with the Angels, which was worth $50 million and included a $10 million signing bonus. However, after his trade to the Mets in 2010, the Angels were still obligated to pay the bulk of his salary for the remaining two years. Over his 12-year career, Matthews Jr. earned an estimated total of over $72 million.

Real Estate

In 2010 Gary paid $3 million for an undeveloped plot of real estate in Corona Del Mar, California. He proceeded to build a 6,000+ square foot mansion with gorgeous views of the harbor and ocean in the distance. Gary listed this home for sale in June 2015 for $15.5 million but did not accept any offers. He listed it again in July 2023 for $21.995 million. Here is a video tour from the 2015 listing:

Read more: Gary Matthews, Jr. Net Worth

Willie Mays is a former professional baseball player who has a net worth of $8 million. Willie Mays played in the MLB from 1951 to 1973, mostly with the New York / San Francisco Giants. Regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, he won 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards and helped lead the Giants to a World Series title in 1954. Mays ended his playing career with the New York Mets, retiring after the team's loss in the 1973 World Series.

Salary, Contracts and Endorsements

Willie Mays made a total of $1,148,467 in salary and contracts during his 22-year career. His highest salary was $180,000 in 1973, which would be worth about $1.2 million today. He led the league in salary 10 times, and was one of the highest-paid players in baseball for most of his career.

Here is a breakdown of Mays' career earnings:

• 1951-1957: $7,500 per year
• 1958: $65,700
• 1959-1963: $100,000 per year
• 1964: $105,000
• 1965: $125,000
• 1966-1969: $150,000 per year
• 1970-1972: $165,000 per year
• 1973: $180,000

In addition to his salary, Mays also earned money from endorsements and other ventures. He was one of the most popular athletes in the world during his playing days, and his endorsement deals included products such as Coca-Cola, Wheaties, and Ford.

Early Life and Education

Willie Mays Jr. was born on May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama to Annie and Cat. Both of his parents were athletes, with his mother having been a basketball and track star in high school and his father a baseball player with the black team at the local iron plant. Mays's parents separated when he was three, and he was subsequently raised by his father and aunts. He was educated at Fairfield Industrial High School, where he played multiple sports, including football and basketball.

Negro and Minor League Career

Still in high school, Mays started playing professional baseball with the Negro minor league team the Chattanooga Choo-Choos in the summer of 1948. He soon joined the Negro American League's Birmingham Black Barons, with which he made it to the 1948 Negro World Series. In the tournament, the Barons lost to the Homestead Grays. Although a number of MLB teams showed interest in signing Mays during this time, they had to wait until he graduated from high school. Following his graduation, he was signed by the New York Giants. Mays went on to play in the minors for the Interstate League's Class B Trenton Giants and the American Association's Class AAA Minneapolis Millers.

New York Giants

Mays was called up to the Giants in May of 1951. In his 13^th at-bat in the MLB on May 28, he hit his first career home run. Mays finished the regular season batting .274 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs, good enough for NL Rookie of the Year honors. He and the Giants went on to reach the 1951 World Series, which they lost to the New York Yankees. After the end of the season, Mays was drafted by the US Army in the Korean War. He played the first few weeks of the 1952 season with the Giants before heading off to Fort Eustis, Virginia, where he spent much of his time playing on military baseball teams. Mays was discharged from the Army on the first day of March in 1954, after which he returned to the Giants for spring training. His 1954 season was one of his best, as he won the NL MVP Award and the Hickok Belt en route to a World Series title. In Game 1 of the World Series, Mays made an over-the-shoulder running catch that would go down in history as one of the greatest plays in baseball history.

In the 1955 season, Mays led the league with 51 home runs. The next season, he hit 36 homers and stole a career-high 40 bases, making him the second player to join the 30-30 club. In 1957, Mays won the inaugural Gold Glove Award, the first of his 12 consecutive Gold Gloves. Following the 1957 season, the Giants decided to move to San Francisco due to dwindling attendance numbers and the desire for a new ballpark. In the team's final home game at the Polo Grounds in New York, Mays was given a standing ovation from fans during the middle of his final at-bat.

San Francisco Giants

In San Francisco, Mays became the highest-paid baseball player in 1959, with a $75,000 contract. That year, he batted .313 with 34 home runs and 113 RBIs, and led the league in stolen bases for the fourth straight year. In 1960, the Giants moved into the new Candlestick Park, which Mays found difficult to figure out due to its capricious winds. Although he managed only 29 homers that season, he led the NL with 190 hits. The following season, he hit 40 home runs and batted .308. Mays and the Giants had their best season yet in San Francisco in 1962, with Mays leading the team in eight offensive categories. The Giants advanced to the World Series, once again facing off against the Yankees as they had back in New York in 1951. Ultimately, the Yankees won the championship in seven games. In 1963, Mays signed a contract with the Giants worth a record-setting $105,000 per season. He finished the season batting .314 with 38 home runs and 103 RBIs.

Mays was named the captain of the Giants in 1964, making him the first African-American captain of a team in the MLB. That season, he led the NL with 47 home runs. Mays had an even more impressive season in 1965, hitting his 500^th career home run in September and finishing the season with a career-high 52 home runs. Moreover, he won his second NL MVP Award. Following a solid but relatively unremarkable 1966 season, Mays entered a slump in 1967. In 141 games played, he batted .263 with 22 home runs and only 70 RBIs. Mays had slight improvements in 1968 with a .289 batting average, 23 home runs, and 79 RBIs. In September of 1969, he hit his 600^th career home run. Mays was named by the Sporting News as "Player of the Decade" for the 1960s. Although he performed less exceptionally in the early 1970s, he helped the Giants advance to the NLCS and won the inaugural Roberto Clemente Award. After starting the 1972 season on a dismal note, Mays was traded in early May to the New York Mets.

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New York Mets

Back in New York, Mays spent his final two seasons in the MLB with the Mets. He played 88 games in his first season with the team in 1972, batting .250 with eight home runs. In his final career season in 1973, Mays spent significant time on the disabled list and batted a career-low .211 with six home runs. Still, the Mets won the NL East and the NLCS en route to the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. Mays had the final at-bat of his career in Game 3 of the tournament. Ultimately, the Athletics won the World Series in seven games. Mays subsequently retired from professional playing.

Post-Playing Career

Following his retirement from professional playing in 1973, Mays remained with the Mets as a hitting instructor until the end of the 1979 season. That year, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. After that, he began working at the Bally's Park Place casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he served as a greeter and a special assistant to the casino president. In 1986, Mays returned to the baseball world to become a special assistant to the president and general manager of his former team the Giants. He also founded his own charity, the Say Hey Foundation, which promotes youth baseball. In 2015, Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

Personal Life

In 1956, Mays married Marghuerite Chapman. The pair adopted a baby boy named Michael in 1959, and got divorced in 1963 after having separated the previous year. In the early 1970s, Mays wed Mae Allen, a child-welfare worker. They remained together until 2013, when Allen passed away from Alzheimer's.

Real Estate

For many years, Willie has lived in a 5,000 square foot home in the extremely upscale neighborhood of Atherton, California. It's unclear exactly when or how much he paid for the home but today it is worth at least $7 million.

Read more: Willie Mays Net Worth

Elly De La Cruz is a Dominican professional baseball infielder who has a net worth of $400 thousand. Elly De La Cruz made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023. On June 23, 2023, he achieved a hit for the cycle when he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in a game against the Atlanta Braves. At the age of 21, Elly was the youngest player to achieve the feat since César Cedeño in 1972.

Salary

Ahead of the 2023 season Elly De La Cruz signed a 1-year, $720,000 contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Contract Details

Before making it to the major leagues, De La Cruz signed with a company called Big League Advance (now known as Big League Advantage). According to the official BLA website, "Big League Advantage, LLC (BLA) is an investment fund that provides athletes with the resources they need to help make their dream a reality. Players receive capital – not loans – and a player keeps the funds whether or not he ever makes it to the next level. For players who make it to the next level, we share in their success."

As long as Elly is an MLB player, he'll pay 10% of every dollar he makes to BLA. The company was founded by former pitcher Michael Schwimer in 2016. In June 2023, MSNBC columnist Julio Ricardo Varela wrote an opinion piece about this deal titled "This financial decision could haunt Cincinnati Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz." Varela wrote, "If De La Cruz does earn hundreds of millions of dollars in the majors, then he'll likely owe BLA tens of millions of dollars. That's one of the stark realities of America's pastime: The systemic exploitation of players, especially Black Spanish-speaking Latino ones, is as linked to the game as hot dogs, peanuts and cold beer."

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Early Life

Elly De La Cruz was born Elly Antonio De La Cruz on January 11, 2002, in Sabana Grande de Boyá, Dominican Republic. He has eight siblings, including a fraternal twin brother named Pedro. Elly is nine inches taller than Pedro, which has caused confusion among people who don't know the twins. Pedro told ESPN in June 2023, "They say it's not true. So we just have to show people the birth certificate for them to believe."

In a 2023 interview with the "Cincinnati Enquirer," De La Cruz said that he moved out of his home at the age of 6, stating, "The brother of my coach offered me a chance to live with him because he would provide food for me and train me. I told him, 'You have to ask my mom.' After that, they made the decision, and I started living with the brother of my coach."

Elly trained at a baseball academy in Santo Domingo and played the positions of left fielder and pitcher on local teams. While playing in a tournament, he impressed the Vilorio family, who chose him for their new team and "gave him a new glove, a new bat and a new place to live." De La Cruz told the "Cincinnati Enquirer," "They treated me like a son. They gave me everything. Everything I have, I need to thank them for."

Career

Elly signed with the Cincinnati Reds in July 2018 as an international free agent, receiving a $65,000 signing bonus. His professional debut took place in 2019 with the minor league team the Dominican Summer League Reds, and he hit .285 in 43 games. De La Cruz didn't play in 2020 because the minor league season was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Elly played for the Rookie-level Cincinnati Reds affiliate the Arizona Complex League Reds and the Single-A Reds affiliate the Daytona Tortugas. He played in more than 60 games that year and scored eight home runs and 42 RBIs and batted a cumulative .296/.336/.539. In 2022, De La Cruz played for the Reds affiliates the Dayton Dragons (High–A) and the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double–A). He played in 121 games, hitting .304/.359/.586 with 28 home runs (a career high) and 86 RBIs. Elly was selected to represent the Reds in the 2022 All-Star Futures Game, and he said of the honor, "It's an All-Star Game, so you got to enjoy it, and I'm going to enjoy every bit of it. I'm very proud of myself and the work I've been doing, all my work to this moment. I'm very proud for accomplishing that and very happy, very happy."

In November 2022, De La Cruz was added to the Reds' roster so the team could protect him from the MLB's Rule 5 draft, which "aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other organizations would be willing to have them play in the major leagues." Elly was optioned to the Triple-A Reds affiliate the Louisville Bats for the beginning of the 2023 season. He played 38 games for the team, batting .298/.398/.633 and hitting 12 home runs and 36 RBIs. He was promoted to the major leagues on June 6, 2023, after Nick Senzel was injured. The following day, De La Cruz hit his first home run in the major leagues. On July 8, 2023, he stole second, third, and home in a single inning, making him the first Reds player to do so in more than 100 years.

Personal Life

Elly wears a pendant with his mother's photo, and according to the "Cincinnati Enquirer," "It's there because it reminds him of all of the times he doubted he could make it to the big leagues. It's there because it reminds him of growing up in the Dominican Republic and how all he ever wanted was a baseball jersey. It reminds him of when his mother, Carmin, told him that no matter how far his baseball career goes, she'd always be proud of him." De La Cruz said of his mother, "I just want to give everything to her. She's why I'm here, and I want her to feel proud of me."

Read more: Elly De La Cruz Net Worth

Carl Yastrzemski is an American former professional baseball player who has a net worth of $8 million. Carl Yastrzemski played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox and is one of the most decorated players in the organization's history. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Early Life

Carl Michael Yastrzemski was born on August 22, 1939, in Southampton, New York, and raised on a potato farm. Both of his parents were of a Polish background, and Carl was bilingual from an early age. He started playing baseball on sandlot teams with his father and graduated from Bridgehampton School in 1957. Carl became the first Little League player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He attended Notre Dame on a basketball scholarship before embarking on his baseball career.

Baseball Career

Carl Yastrzemski signed with the Boston Red Sox and was assigned to the minor league Raleigh Capitals in 1959 where he led the league with a .377 batting average. He was then moved to the Minneapolis Millers for the postseason and the 1960 season. He kept his promise to his parents by finishing his degree at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, in 1966.

He was a left fielder and first baseman who batted left handed and threw right handed. Yastrzemski spent his entire Major League Baseball career playing for the Boston Red Sox from 1961 to 1983. He was an 18-time MLB All-Star including a streak from 1965 to 1979. Yastrzemski was the American League MVP and won the Triple Crown in 1967. He was also the AL home run leader and RBI leader in 1967. Yastrzemski was a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner and three-time AL batting champion. Carl is a member of the 3,000 hit club and was the first American League player in that club to hit over 400 home runs. His No. 8 jersey was retired by the Boston Red Sox and he was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. Yastrzemski was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1989.

For his career, Yastrzemski hit .285 on 3,419 hits to go along with 452 home runs and 1,844 runs batted in.

Darren McCollester/Getty Images

Personal Life

Carl's son Mike was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1984 and played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles. He started his pro career with the Durham Bulls before playing for two Chicago White Sox affiliate teams, the Hawaii Islanders and the Vancouver Canadians of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Mike passed away in 2004 at the age of 43 from a blood clot after hip surgery.

His grandson Michael, Carl Jr.'s son, was drafted by the Red Sox in 2009 and the Seattle Mariners in 2012. He didn't sign with either team and played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He then signed with the Baltimore Orioles after being selected in the 2013 MLB Draft. He played in the minors before being traded to the San Francisco Giants and made his MLB debut in May 2019. In his first game playing at Fenway Park on September 17, he went 2-for-7 with a home run and double. The next game of the series, he threw out the first pitch to Mike.

Boca Raton Mansion

In 1976 Carl built a 5,900 square foot waterfront home in Boca Raton, Florida. He sold this home in 1997 for $790,000. That was perhaps not a wise decision as today the home is worth north of $10 million.

Read more: Carl Yastrzemski Net Worth