Episode 28
Koufax and Drysdale Holdout February 28 1966
On February 28, 1966 — Refusing to report to spring training, Los Angeles Dodger pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale begin their joint holdout, asking for a $1 million, three-year contract, to be divided equally between them. The deal, equivalent to an annual salary of $167,000 for each hurler, will make them the best-paid players in baseball, easily surpassing Willie Mays’ $125,000 yearly paycheck with the Giants. Although the deal didn’t happen, On March 30, Drysdale and Koufax will end their holdouts, with each signing one-year contracts worth under $150,000. Koufax, however, will become the highest-paid player in the game.
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