The Friday File: Of the 1,453 baseball players who accrued at least one day of service in 2019, 584 players (40.6%) earned less than a million in career income, with the median being $357,718. Of the 199 players with 1-2 years of service, median lifetime earnings were $1.24 million. Worse, in 2005 the average career was 4.79 years; now just 3.71 years. Then subtract taxes/dues/commissions which exceed 50%! Go players.