Million Dollar Players

[Rockslinger]

Here is a trivia question. Who was the first million dollar player in the NHL, NFL, NBA, etc.?

 

[gcostanza]

Yes, that is a trivia question (or 2, or 3, or more), depending on how many etceteras you want answered.

You might want to define million dollar player, is that per season? career earnings?

Be specific, son .

 

[HOF]

Earning 1 million or more per season!

NBA Moses Malone 1978-79

MLB Nolan Ryan 1979 Houston Astros

Hockey:
WHL
Bobby Hull received 1 million up-front to play with the Jets the entire contract was 2.5 million
Derek Sanderson signed for 2.5 million with the Phily Blazers, but went back to the NHL and never collected his coin.

NHL
The speculation is that Bobby Orr signed with the Blackhawks for a guaranteed million and that Bernie Parent signed with the Flyers for a million. Wayne Gretzky never signed a million dollar contract in Edmonton, he could earn a million by incentives. He signed for 2 million with the Kings per year.

NFL
It's rumoured that Joe Namath was the first but hasn't been substantiated.