They say, to the victor goes the spoils, and that may be more true in Major League Baseball more than any other sport. While fans often focus on how much owners and the league might be pulling in as extra revenue during the postseason, for the players, there’s more than bragging rights involved there’s cold, hard, cash.
As part of MLB’s labor agreement with the players, those that make the postseason receive a percentage of the gate for all games. This “players’ pool” is formed from 50 percent of the gate receipts from the Wild Card Games; 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first three games of the Division Series; 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the League Championship Series; and 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the World Series. The players’ pool is divided among the 10 Postseason Clubs: the two World Series participants, the two League Championship Series runners-up, the four Division Series runners-up and the two runners-up in the Wild Card Games.
Based on the number of games this year, a full postseason share for the 2014 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants was worth a record high of $388,605.94, while a full share for the American League Champion Kansas City Royals totaled $230,699.73.
The Giants’ average share this year eclipses the previous high – which also went to San Francisco following the Club’s 2012 World Championship – of $370,872.53. Last year’s share amounts were $307,322.68 for the 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox and $228,300.17 for the 2013 National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
The reason for the increase? This year the World Series went 7 games, and unlike last year where there were not only less games, but smaller seating capacity in Fenway Park, the Giants and Royals tapped an overall larger gate revenue.
Also, those wondering why the players get 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the League Championship Series; and 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the World Series, it’s this: those are best of 7 series meaning the first 4 games are the minimum that can be played. This is why the real money doesn’t start flowing in for the owners until those series go past the minimum.
The breakdown by club for 2014 postseason shares are as follows:
World Series Champions
San Francisco Giants (Share of Players’ Pool: $22,329,526.27; value of each of full share: $388,605.94) – The Giants issued 47 full shares, a total of 9.65 partial shares and 17 cash awards.
American League Champions
Kansas City Royals (Share of Players’ Pool: $14,886,350.85; value of each of full share: $230,699.73) – The Royals issued 54 full shares, a total of 9.77 partial shares and 25 cash awards.
League Championship Series Runners-Up
Baltimore Orioles (Share of Players’ Pool: $7,443,175.42; value of each of full share: $125,288.04) – The Orioles issued 52 full shares, a total of 6.25 partial shares and 36 cash awards.
St. Louis Cardinals (Share of Players’ Pool: $7,443,175.42; value of each of full share: $115,480.62) – The Cardinals issued 54 full shares, a total of 10.32 partial shares and two cash awards.
Division Series Runners-Up
Detroit Tigers (Share of Players’ Pool: $2,015,860.01; value of each of full share: $31,543.93) – The Tigers issued 55 full shares, a total of 8.21 partial shares and nine cash awards.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Share of Players’ Pool: $2,015,860.01; value of each of full share: $29,844.65) – The Angels issued 57 full shares, a total of 7.825 partial shares and 29 cash awards.
Los Angeles Dodgers (Share of Players’ Pool: $2,015,860.01; value of each of full share: $31,542.85) – The Dodgers issued 54 full shares, a total of 9.65 partial shares and four cash awards.
Washington Nationals (Share of Players’ Pool: $2,015,860.01; value of each of full share: $29,418.13) – The Nationals issued 58 full shares and a total of 10.52 partial shares.
Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser Runners-Up
Oakland Athletics (Share of Players’ Pool: $930,396.93; value of each of full share: $15,266.43) – The A’s issued 53 full shares, a total of 6.42 partial shares and 18 cash awards.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Share of Players’ Pool: $930,396.93; value of each of full share: $16,555.58) – The Pirates issued 47 full shares, a total of 8.92 partial shares and one cash award.
Source: Major League Baseball
