Klaatu
6th February 2010, 17:57
In a Dying American City
Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander has just "landed" himself a king's ransom.
I've got nothing against Mr Verlander personally, but an $80-million salary in a town (Detroit)
which is dying, a city of people forced out of their homes, bankrupt, hungry, homeless, alcoholics,
failing economy, is shameful. Verlander is not even from Detroit (He is from Virginia)
Keep on sucking the life out of Detroit! We just got rid of a criminal mayor who extracted all he
could. Now this. But I guess that's capitalism: The opulent eat filet mignon, while the rest of us
eat hot dogs at the ball park.
Tigers' Justin Verlander: 'I feel like this organization ... wants to win'
By GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Justin Verlander put pen to paper shortly after his news conference began this afternoon, announcing
that he will remain a Tiger through 2014.
Verlander and the Tigers agreed to a five-year, $80-million contract today, rather than going to arbitration
for a one-year contract. The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus, $6.75 million this season, $12.75
million next year and $20 million in each of the following three seasons. He would have been eligible for
free agency after the 2011 World Series.
"I want to win," Verlander said. "That's first and foremost. And I feel like this organization ... wants to win,
and they're going to put this team in a position year in and year out.
"That's all I can ask for, to be part of a team that goes out there and has a chance to win our division and
play in the playoffs. That was a major consideration for me."
Verlander said he felt he had "grown up in this city. I've made a name for myself here, and I love the
Old English D."
Verlander was 19-9 with a 3.45 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 35 starts in 2009. He has won 65 games in
132 starts and has a 3.92 career ERA.
“I have one goal and that’s to make it to the Hall of Fame,” Verlander said.
Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said it was “a very happy moment for the
organization” at news conference.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and someone who can anchor our staff over the next five
years,” Dombrowski said.
http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/SPORTS02/100204031/?imw=Y
"Detroit Tiger Hank Greenberg used to make $25 per game, and walked to the stadium in order
to save bus fare. (And he actually lived in the city)" (according to my 85 year-old dad, and was
probably earlier in his career)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Greenberg#Return_to_baseball
In 1947, Greenberg and the Tigers had a lengthy salary dispute. When Greenberg decided to retire rather
than play for less, Detroit sold his contract to the Pittsburgh Pirates. To persuade him not to retire, Pittsburgh
made Greenberg the first baseball player to earn over $80,000 ($763,169 in current dollar terms) in a season
as pure salary...Do the math:
Verlander = $16 million average per season
Greenberg = $0.8 million (today's equivalent value)
Verlander makes twenty times the amount Greenberg made
for doing the same job, playing baseball. But in a dying American city.
You'd think they would let the homeless sleep in the park when they
weren't playing gold-ball.
Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander has just "landed" himself a king's ransom.
I've got nothing against Mr Verlander personally, but an $80-million salary in a town (Detroit)
which is dying, a city of people forced out of their homes, bankrupt, hungry, homeless, alcoholics,
failing economy, is shameful. Verlander is not even from Detroit (He is from Virginia)
Keep on sucking the life out of Detroit! We just got rid of a criminal mayor who extracted all he
could. Now this. But I guess that's capitalism: The opulent eat filet mignon, while the rest of us
eat hot dogs at the ball park.
Tigers' Justin Verlander: 'I feel like this organization ... wants to win'
By GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Justin Verlander put pen to paper shortly after his news conference began this afternoon, announcing
that he will remain a Tiger through 2014.
Verlander and the Tigers agreed to a five-year, $80-million contract today, rather than going to arbitration
for a one-year contract. The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus, $6.75 million this season, $12.75
million next year and $20 million in each of the following three seasons. He would have been eligible for
free agency after the 2011 World Series.
"I want to win," Verlander said. "That's first and foremost. And I feel like this organization ... wants to win,
and they're going to put this team in a position year in and year out.
"That's all I can ask for, to be part of a team that goes out there and has a chance to win our division and
play in the playoffs. That was a major consideration for me."
Verlander said he felt he had "grown up in this city. I've made a name for myself here, and I love the
Old English D."
Verlander was 19-9 with a 3.45 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 35 starts in 2009. He has won 65 games in
132 starts and has a 3.92 career ERA.
“I have one goal and that’s to make it to the Hall of Fame,” Verlander said.
Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said it was “a very happy moment for the
organization” at news conference.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and someone who can anchor our staff over the next five
years,” Dombrowski said.
http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/SPORTS02/100204031/?imw=Y
"Detroit Tiger Hank Greenberg used to make $25 per game, and walked to the stadium in order
to save bus fare. (And he actually lived in the city)" (according to my 85 year-old dad, and was
probably earlier in his career)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Greenberg#Return_to_baseball
In 1947, Greenberg and the Tigers had a lengthy salary dispute. When Greenberg decided to retire rather
than play for less, Detroit sold his contract to the Pittsburgh Pirates. To persuade him not to retire, Pittsburgh
made Greenberg the first baseball player to earn over $80,000 ($763,169 in current dollar terms) in a season
as pure salary...Do the math:
Verlander = $16 million average per season
Greenberg = $0.8 million (today's equivalent value)
Verlander makes twenty times the amount Greenberg made
for doing the same job, playing baseball. But in a dying American city.
You'd think they would let the homeless sleep in the park when they
weren't playing gold-ball.