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Bonus Record: Year-By-Year Progression
June 4, 2005
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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