Babe Ruth: Retired In 1935
Career Earnings: $16.5 million
Current Net Worth: $16 million (Deceased)
Babe Ruth, known as “The Sultan of Swat” and “The Bambino,” built a reputation that few athletes are capable of. After playing for Boston Red Sox and moving on to The New York Yankees, Ruth had a large fan base that corporations like Old Gold from British American Tobacco decided to capitalize on. The cigarettes and more were marketed by Ruth, using his star power to increase sales. When adjusted for inflation, the baseball hero amassed career earnings of over $16 million. Babe passed away after battling cancer in 1948 at the age of 53.
Mickey Mantle: Retired In 1969
Career Earnings: $9 million
Current Net Worth: $10 million (Deceased)
The way for future greats, including Mickey Mantle, was paved by players such as Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. Often hailed in the history of the sport as the greatest switch hitter, Mantle played several roles for the New York Yankees. Not only was he beautifully paid with a salary of about $800,000 a year, but after his retirement in 1969, he continued to rake in cash for years. He partnered with Unilever to star in a commercial for Brylcreem in the early ’70s. Mantle passed away after receiving a liver transplant at the age of 63 in 1995.
