The following chart reveals the evolution of the highest paid player in Major League Baseball. Data after 1985 is verified through research by Doug Pappas.
1927       $70,000 - Babe Ruth (unconfirmed)
1930       $80,000 - Babe Ruth (unconfirmed)
1949      $100,000 - Ted Williams (unconfirmed)
1961 -     $75,000 - Mickey Mantle (unconfirmed)
1966 -    $130,000 - Willie Mays (unconfirmed)
1972      $200,000 - Hank Aaron (unconfirmed)
1979 -             - Pete Rose (unconfirmed)
1981 -  $2,000,000 - Dave Winfield (unconfirmed)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
1985 -  $2,130,300 - Mike Schmidt
1986 -  $2,800,000 - George Foster
1990 -  $3,200,000 - Robin Yount
1991 -  $3,800,000 - Darryl Strawberry
1992 -  $6,100,000 - Bobby Bonilla
1993 -  $6,200,000 - Bobby Bonilla
1994 -  $6,300,000 - Bobby Bonilla
1995 -  $9,237,500 - Cecil Fielder
1997 - $10,000,000 - Albert Belle
1998 - $14,936,667 - Gary Sheffield
2000 - $15,714,286 - Kevin Brown
2001 - $22,000,000 - Alex Rodriguez


The following chart reveals the Major League Baseball players that have earned the most total salary in their career (through the end of 2003). Data is verified through research by Doug Pappas.

$109,845,000 - Greg Maddux 
$104,463,215 - Barry Bonds
$99,461,930 - Kevin Brown 
$98,001,000 - Roger Clemens (retired)
$97,376,294 - Albert Belle (retired)
$95,159,654 - Ken Griffey, Jr
$94,295,000 - Randy Johnson 
$93,010,002 - Gary Sheffield 
$90,568,000 - Sammy Sosa
$85,030,097 - Larry Walker
$83,765,000 - Barry Larkin
$83,238,334 - Mo Vaughn
$82,437,500 - Juan Gonzalez
$82,297,996 - Rafael Palmiero
$82,199,437 - Tom Glavine
$78,860,000 - Matt Williams
$78,283,144 - Mike Piazza
$78,027,000 - Alex Rodriguez
$77,194,000 - Pedro Martinez
$76,700,000 - Cal Ripken, Jr (no data available for 1981-1984)
$76,885,715 - Bernie Williams
$75,603,815 - Roberto Alomar
$74,688,354 - Mark McGwire (retired)
$72,014,000 - Frank Thomas
$68,342,501 - David Cone (retired)
$66,599,000 - Carlos Delgado
$64,320,000 - Raul Mondesi
$63,532,727 - Manny Ramirez