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Signing bonuses have grown exponentially since 1965, when the draft was instituted ostensibly to . . . curtail the growth of signing bonuses. From a first-round average of less than $50,000 in the first several years of the draft, the average bonus grew to more than $2 million a few years ago before leveling off and actually declining. Following is a year-by-year breakdown of average first-round signing bonuses, the annual percentage change, the first overall pick in the June regular phase and his bonus, and the player who received the largest bonus (if other from the No. 1 pick), as compiled by BA founding editor Allan Simpson. The signing bonus average for first-round picks from 1965-82 includes the value of college scholarship plans and incentive bonus plans, in addition to the cash bonus paid. From 1983-2004, the amount represents only the cash bonus paid.
Year
First-Round Avg.
Change
No. 1 Pick
Bonus
Largest Bonus (Pick Number)
Amount
1965
$42,516
--
Rick Monday, of, Athletics
$100,000
same
1966
44,430
+4.5%
Steve Chilcott, c, Mets
75,000
Reggie Jackson, of, Athletics (2)
$80,000
1967
42,898
-3.4
Ron Blomberg, 1b, Yankees
65,000
#Mike Adamson, rhp, Orioles
75,000
1968
43,850
+2.2
Tim Foli, ss, Mets
74,000
Lloyd Allen, rhp, Angels (12)
75,000
1969
43,504
-0.8
Jeff Burroughs, of, Senators
88,000
same
1970
45,230
+3.9
Mike Ivie, c, Padres
75,000
#Dave Kingman, 1b, Giants
80,000
1971
45,197
-0.1
Danny Goodwin, c, White Sox
DNS
Ed Kurpiel, 1b, Cardinals (8)
83,750
1972
44,952
-0.5
Dave Roberts, 3b, Padres
70,000
Jamie Quirk, ss, Royals (18)
78,000
1973
48,832
+8.6
*David Clyde, lhp, Rangers
65,000
^Alan Bannister, ss, Phillies
85,000
1974
53,333
+9.2
*Bill Almon, ss, Padres
90,000
Willie Wilson, of, Royals (18)
90,000
1975
49,333
-7.5
*Danny Goodwin, c, Angels
125,000
same
1976
49,631
+0.6
Floyd Bannister, lhp, Astros
100,000
same
1977
48,813
-1.6
Harold Baines, of, White Sox
32,000
Paul Molitor, ss, Twins (3)
77,500
1978
67,892
+39.1
*Bob Horner, 3b, Braves
162,000
same
1979
68,094
+0.2
Al Chambers, 1b, Mariners
60,000
Todd Demeter, 1b, Yankees (51)
208,000
1980
74,025
+8.7
Darryl Strawberry, of, Mets
152,500
same
1981
78,573
+6.1
Mike Moore, rhp, Mariners
100,000
Terry Blocker, of, Mets (4)
127,500
1982
82,615
+5.1
Shawon Dunston, ss, Cubs
135,000
Kenny Williams, of, Wh. Sox (78)
160,000
1983
87,236
+5.6
Tim Belcher, rhp, Twins
DNS
Kurt Stillwell, ss, Reds (2)
135,000
1984
105,392
+20.8
Shawn Abner, of, Mets
150,500
Mark McGwire, 1b, Athletics (10)
145,000
1985
118,115
+12.1
B.J. Surhoff, c, Brewers
150,000
Bobby Witt, rhp, Rangers (3)
179,000
1986
116,300
-1.6
Jeff King, 3b, Pirates
180,000
same
1987
128,480
+10.5
Ken Griffey Jr., of, Mariners
160,000
Mark Merchant, of, Pirates (2)
165,000
Jack McDowell, rhp, Wh. Sox (5)
165,000
1988
142,540
+10.9
Andy Benes, rhp, Padres
235,000
same
1989
176,008
+23.5
*Ben McDonald, rhp, Orioles
350,000
*John Olerud, 1b, Blue Jays (79)
575,000
1990
252,577
+43.5
Chipper Jones, ss, Braves
275,000
*Todd Van Poppel, rhp, A’s (14)
500,000
Tony Clark, 1b, Tigers (2)
500,000
1991
365,396
+44.7
Brien Taylor, lhp, Yankees
1,550,000
same
1992
481,893
+31.9
Phil Nevin, 3b, Astros
700,000
Jeffrey Hammonds, of, Orioles (4)
975,000
1993
613,037
+27.2
*Alex Rodriguez, ss, Mariners
1,000,000
Darren Dreifort, rhp, Dodgers (2)
1,300,000
1994
790,357
+28.9
Paul Wilson, rhp, Mets
1,550,000
Josh Booty, ss, Marlins (5)
1,600,000
1995
918,019
+16.1
Darin Erstad, of, Angels
1,575,000
same
1996@
944,404
+2.9
Kris Benson, rhp, Pirates
2,000,000
Matt White, rhp, Giants (7)
10,200,000
1997
1,325,536
+40.4
Matt Anderson, rhp, Tigers
2,505,000
same
1998
1,637,667
+23.1
*Pat Burrell, 3b, Phillies
3,150,000
Corey Patterson, of, Cubs (3)
3,700,000
1999
1,809,767
+10.5
Josh Hamilton, of, Devil Rays
3,960,000
same
2000
1,872,586
+3.5
Adrian Gonzalez, 1b, Marlins
3,000,000
Joe Borchard, of, White Sox (12)
5,300,000
2001
2,154,280
+15.0
Joe Mauer, c, Twins
5,150,000
same
2002
2,106,793
-2.2
Bryan Bullington, rhp, Pirates
4,000,000
B.J. Upton, ss, Devil Rays (2)
4,600,000
2003
1,765,667
-16.2
*Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays
3,700,000
same
2004
1,958,448
+10.9
Matt Bush, ss, Padres
3,150,000
*Stephen Drew, ss, Diamondbacks
4,000,000
Jered Weaver, rhp, Angels
4,000,000
* Signed major league contract; cash bonus only reported.
# Selected in June secondary phase.
^ Selected in January draft.
@ Does not include four loophole free agents
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