Editor’s note: The author is responding to a blog written by SBT executive editor Steve Jagler for OnMilwaukee.com, explaining that the Milwaukee Braves Historical Society is seeking corporate support to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the team’s 1957 World Series championship.
Mr. Jagler,
Corporate funds are needed for the Braves reunion? I don’t think so.
It’s time for Major League Baseball to take care of their own. Recently, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Kevin Mench received a $600,000 raise for a sub-par season. Tony Graffanino was also rewarded with a hefty pay increase. For the Brewers to issue raises of this stature would indicate that the coffers are far from dry.
One little secret regarding MLB players is the amount of meal money they receive for road trips. I have never been able to get a straight answer, but an educated guess is that the figure is around $100 a day for each day on the road. With 81 road games, that would come to roughly $8,000. If each player just gave 25 percent of their meal money, it would amount to $50,000 from one team alone. This would seem to be more than enough to fund the Braves reunion.
Corporate sponsorship means one thing … any funds donated eventually come from the consumer. Let Major League Baseball take care of their own.
Count me out as far as attending any Brewer games this season. While I will still follow the team through the media, I have a better use for my money than to fund a $600,000 raise to a mediocre ballplayer.
Respectfully submitted,
David Schultz,
Lomira
