77 Baseball Players Earn at Least $1 Million

The World Series champion Minnesota Twins have seven players earning $1 million or more this season, more than any major league club, and there are a record 77 players earning $1 million or more in 1988, according to contract details obtained by the Associated Press.

Nine of the 77 millionaires will make $2 million or more this season, another baseball record. Shortstop Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals has the highest salary this season, at $2.34 million.

The Twins, who sold 3,939 season tickets in 1987, have increased revenues, selling more than 9,000 for this season and have an advance sale of 1.1 million tickets.

The Dodgers have six millionaires, second most in the major leagues. The additions of free-agent outfielder Kirk Gibson ($1,833,000), pitcher Jesse Orosco ($1 million) and free-agent outfielder Mike Davis ($987,500) could give the Dodgers the highest payroll in baseball. Exact totals cannot be computed until next week, when final roster cuts are made.