A Swing at Baseball Salaries

Regarding the Opinion page article "Grand Salaries Are Ruining the Grand Old Game," Jan. 4: Grand baseball salaries are indeed ruining the grand old game, but fans such as the author are missing something. Some ballplayers are worth $5 million or more this year because last year they helped produce much more than that in team profits. It's the guaranteed multi-year contracts at $5 million and more per year that are to blame. Rarely will a player so comfortably find the incentive to continue producing, an d neither would fans whose incomes were assured for so long.

Players demand such deals, owners willingly grant them, and fans subsidize them while complaining about it. This year, I don't subscribe to the myth that baseball is a necessity. Jim Rygelski, Jennings, Mo.

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