SPORTS HISTORY IN BLACK: Willie Mays hits home run with record-breaking contract

Many people ask why players play the game. Some athletes give a token line talking about how much they love the game they play. But in reality, we all know the money is key to them playing a game they grew up playing. And over the years, sports salaries have escalated to incredible levels. Willie Mays, center field slugger of the San Francisco Giants, connects with the 3,000th hit of his career a single to left-in second inning against Montreal on July 18, 1970, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Expos catcher John Bateman waits for pitch from teammate Mike Wegener. It never arrived. Umpire is Mel Steiner. Mays received the ball immediately at ceremony on the field. Photo credit: The Associated Press Nowhere is that more evident than Major League Baseball. This offseason, the Los AngelesDodgers signed pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal. That deal was unheard of decades ago when reaching six-figures was foreign to players. But on Feb. 20, 1963, Willie Mays cracked the six-figure mark, becoming the highest-paid player in baseball after signing a record $100,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants.The post SPORTS HISTORY IN BLACK: Willie Mays hits home run...