MLB Announces Postseason Player Compensation Distributions

MLB distributed $52.46M in postseason player compensation this year, a 5.6% drop from '06. The funds -- generated from 60% of the gate receipts during the first three games of each Division Series and first four games of each League Championship Series and World Series -- are largely a function of the stadium capacities of the participating playoff teams, and the comparatively limited seating of the Red Sox’ Fenway Park contributed to the decrease. The World Series-champion Red Sox distributed a full player share of $308,235.75, below the Cardinals' record $362,173.07 a year ago. Due in part to postseason ticket prices that were increased to as much as $250 each for non-premium seats, the '07 compensation pool was still the second-best in MLB history, and Game Four of the World Series in Denver on October 28 set an individual game record for World Series gate receipts (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). The Red Sox voted 47 full shares, along with 14 partial shares and 11 cash awards.  With 37 full- or part-time players on the '07 roster, a "sizable contingent of backstage help, from coaches, trainers, clubhouse staff and Fenway Park employees" received a share (BOSTON HERALD, 11/27). Forty-four members of the Rockies organization received the team’s full share of $233,505.18. That includes the widow of Rockies affiliate Double-A Texas League Tulsa Drillers first-base coach Mike Coolbaugh, who was killed in July when he was struck by a line drive. Rockies players voted during the playoffs to give Coolbaugh's family a full share (DENVER POST, 11/27).