If your future child happens to show some early signs of natural athletic talent, it might be a good idea to focus that talent on becoming a professional baseball player. In terms of raking in a ton of cash, nothing really beats baseball. Not only do NHL and NFL players make much less money than their MLB counterparts, but their contracts are not guaranteed. So if an NFL or NHL player gets injured, he does not get paid. MLB contracts are guaranteed. NY Mets pitcher Johan Santana is the second highest paid player in the league with a salary of $25.2 million. Johan won't suit up once this season due to a shoulder injury, but he'll still get paid every penny of that contract. NBA contracts are guaranteed as well, but basketball tends to be a much more physically challenging sport which often results in a significantly shorter average career length. That's not to say no basketball player made a huge fortune during his playing years. Shaquille O'Neal made close to $300 million during his extensive career. But strictly speaking, if you're gonna pick a sport based on future earnings potential, baseball beats every other sport on pretty much all indicators. Don't believe me? Take a look at the top 20 highest career earners in baseball history…
Highest Career Earnings In Baseball History:
- #1. Alex Rodriguez: $356.2 million (1994 – present)
- #2. Derek Jeter: $265.16 million (1995 – 2013)
- #3. Manny Ramirez: $206.82 million (1993 – present, sort of)
- #4. Barry Bonds: $188.24 million (1986 – 2007)
- #5. Carlos Beltrán: $175.95 million (1998 – present)
- #6. Randy Johnson: $175.55 million (1988 – 2009)
- #7. Mariano Rivera: $169.44 million (1995 – present)
- #8. CC Sabathia: $169.34 million (2001 – present)
- #9. Chipper Jones: $168.55 million (1993 – 2012)
- #10. Gary Sheffield: $168.00 million (1988 – 2009)
- #11. Mark Teixeira: $166.70 million (2003 – present)
- #12. Johan Santana: $161.49 million (2000 – present)
- #13. Todd Helton: $161.49 million (1998 – present)
- #14. Torii Hunter: $160.55 million (1997 – present)
- #15. Ichiro Suzuki: $159.13 million (2001 – present)
- #16. Alfonso Soriano: $157.13 million (1999 – present)
- #17. Albert Pujols: $155.13 million (2001 – present)
- #18. Greg Maddux: $153.84 million (1986 – 2008)
- #19. Ken Griffey, Jr: $151.70 million (1988 – 2010)
- #20. Roger Clemens: $150.60 million (1984 – 2007)
- #21. Adrian Beltre: $149.10 million (1998 – present)
- #22. Roy Halladay: $148.99 million (1998 – 2013)
- #23. Carlos Delgado: $146.30 million (1993 – 2011)
- #24. Pedro Martínez: $146.26 million (1992 – 2010)
- #25. Mike Mussina: $144.53 million (1991 – 2008)
- #26. Jim Thome: $142.71 million (1991 – present)
