Pay Day

     In May 2022, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced a new deal to pay the U.S. Men’s National Team and the U.S. Women’s National Team equally. Over the course of 6 years, dozens of members of the U.S. Women’s National Team have legally fought U.S. Soccer for equal pay, becoming spokeswomen for not only athletes but all women in the U.S. The U.S. Women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo told a reporter, the men’s players “get paid more to just show up than we get paid to win major championships.” In 2016, the U.S. soccer’s pay gap became a widespread public controversy after the Women’s National Team won the World Cup in 2015. The women’s team was far more successful than the men’s, becoming the federation’s main economic engine despite only earning half as much as their male counterparts. After winning the 2015 World Cup, the women shared a bonus of $1.73 million, whereas when the men lost in the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup, they split $5.38 million in performance bonuses....

Today the highest-paid baseball player in the MLB is New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer. He snagged a 3-year contract for $130 million, $43.33 million a year. In 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers earned the title of highest MLB payroll with just below $270 million. The New York Yankees trailed them at just above $200 million. These numbers are baffling to the average human, especially when trying to comprehend how MLB franchises can afford it, but there are key factors in the business of baseball that make these large salaries possible. The Player’s Union         The Major League Baseball Players Association represents all players from all 40 teams. In addition to players, they also protect managers, coaches, trainers, etc. But protection comes with a cost, like a subscription fee. The association bargains for each member and group to ensure fair licensing for the use of their names, numbers, nicknames, signatures, etc. They increase salaries, p...

        The Philadelphia Phillies franchise was established over 139 years ago in 1883. In 1905, the first official World Series was played; to date, there have been 117 World Series. The Phillies have made 7 appearances in the World Series, most recently in 2009, and won twice, most recently in 2008. John Middleton the principal owner of the Philadelphia Phillies with a nearly 50% stake in the franchise sold his family’s tobacco business in 2007 for $2.9 billion in cash. Middleton authorized “stupid money,” to revamp the team with $527 million in free-agent contracts for the three main stars of the Phillies on this year’s road to the World Series. First investment: Right-fielder Bryce Harper for 13 years and $330 million in March 2019 ·                   Base Salary: $26,000,000 ·                  Signing Bonus: $1,538,462 ·  ...