Negro League Baseball Discussion Forum: General Discussion About The Negro Leagues: Author's query: Re: A stage play about the Negro League
By Taylor Hallman (Hallmant) on Friday, September 24, 1999 – 11:22 am:
For a stage play about the Negro League set in a fictionalize NLB team on the day the Jackie Robinson first played in the Major Leagues:
I am seeking to learn how much money different levels of players made playing for an average team. I need to know the salaries in dollar terms of 1947 and, if possible, the buying power of those dollars.
Thanks in advance,
Taylor
Please feel free to send answers to
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By Brent Kelley (Tomturner) on Saturday, September 25, 1999 – 07:36 am:
Taylor
The reference department of your library will have sources for finding things like the cost of a new car or a house in 1947, as well as the average earnings of the general populace. A good salary for a Negro leaguer at that time was about $350 a month, the average was $200-$250. Stars. of course, made more. Meal money was $2-$3 a day. The more successful teams paid a little more, both salary and meals. I think the major league minimum was $3,500 a year.