Jose Canseco's controversial $1 million salary request ... in 1988
San Francisco Chromicle / Aug. 12, 1988:
Jose Canseco, riding a wave of power hitting, is prepared to seek $1 million or more a year in salary from the Athletics next season. The major-league leader in home runs (31) and RBIs (90) currently is earning $325,000 on a contract, which expires after this season. Canseco's Beverly Hills agent indicated this week that even $1 million may not be enough for the future services of the slugging outfielder - especially if he should achieve his stated "40/40" goal this season. Canseco, currently with 30 steals to go with his 31 homers, is attempting to become the first player to have 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in the same season. And as of yesterday he was a pace for 44 and 43 respectively. "We have to wait and see what he does the rest of the season," Jeffrey Borris of the Dennis Gilbert Agency said. "Then we'll do a comparison with other players and what they were paid."
Other players?
"Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays," the agent said.
"Ozzie Smith is the highest paid player in the game at about $2.3 million. So let's put it this way: If Jose goes 40/40, something that's never been done before, maybe he should get a salary that's never been paid before."
Canseco has been quoted recently saying he didn't need "$2-3 million a year to be happy. That's ridiculous."
"Well," Borris said when informed of the statement this week, "he's a very modest guy."
http://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Jose-Canseco-seeks-1-million-salary-1988-4718002.php
A lot has changed in 25 years.
BTW, nothing new: an agent talking out of his ass. Ruth ... Aaron .. Mays ... indeed!
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