Minor/Miner 49er

It was no gimmick, Mickey Mantle worked in the lead mines industry before he ever hit the big time with the New York Yankees. It was during his minor league baseball off-seasons of 1949-50, 1950-51. Minor leaguers didn't make enough money during the summer months of baseball to support them through an entire year. The same was true for major leaguers. In 1958 with the Yankees he became baseball's highest paid player, earning $65,000 per year. -- Bryce