Dodgers History: Jackie Robinson Signs Largest Contract in Franchise History On This Day in 1950
On Jan. 24, 1950, Jackie Robinson signed the then-largest deal in Brooklyn Dodgers history when he agreed to a one-year, $35,000 contract.
Robinson was coming off an MVP season in 1949 in which he hit .342 with 16 home runs and 124 runs batted in. He also led all major leagues with 37 stolen bases.
Robinson more than earned that contract, and proved it with his play in 1950. That year, Robinson hit .328 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs. He made the All-Star team for the second straight season, and would make the team for the next four years, too.
Robinson would not receive his first raise from Branch Rickey until 1952, however. That year, the Dodgers paid Robinson $39,750.
Robinson is most known for breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, and he was a great player over his 10-year tenure with the Dodgers. He made the National League All-Star team every year from 1949-54 and was selected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (1962) by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
In 1,382 games with the Dodgers, Robinson slashed .313/.410/.477 with 141 home runs, 761 RBIs, 286 doubles, 55 triples and 756 walks to just 291 strikeouts. He stole exactly 200 bases, finishing among the top six base-stealers in the National League each year of his career.
Robinson’s $35,000 salary equates to $445,481 in present-day cash, but his role in integrating baseball is priceless. Consider that in 2021, a jersey Robinson wore during the 1950 season sold for $4.2 million at auction.
When considering the biggest bargains in franchise history, the conversation begins in 1947.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
