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PRYanksFan
I guess players of today don’t put getting to the World Series as their No. 1 objective. As much money as they’re getting paid nowadays, they would hardly miss the playoff and W.S. Bonus checks that were the staple back in the day. I guess that would be the only reason someone would leave a first place team to join a third place team in a division that’s been ruled by a perennial team. I used to think every players’ main objective was getting to the World Series. Not anymore, sadly.

Joe DiMaggio On His 1938 Holdout

In 1937, in his second major league season, Joe DiMaggio batted .346/.412/.673, with 167 RBI and 418 total bases. He finished 2nd in the AL MVP voting. He was paid $15,000.

He believed he should earn $40,000 for 1938, but the club offered only $25,000. DiMaggio held out and did not report to spring training.

Under the rules of the time -- you know, the "good old days" -- whichever team first signed a player had full control over him for his entire career. Free agency did not exist. The player could either sign whatever contract was offered or he could retire.

Once the season began, DiMaggio accepted the $25,000 and returned to the team. Ripped as greedy in the sports pages (naturally), Yankee fans booed him for most of the season. ... Some things never change.