Yet another MLB record was set for the 2015 season. The conclusion of the World Series matchup between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets finally gave every playoff team their postseason shares.
This year's players' pool was $69,882,149.26, which is a new MLB record, the league announced today. The previous number - $65,363,469.22 - was set back in 2012.
The 2015 players' pool was a record total of $69,882,149.26, topping the previous high of $65,363,469.22 in 2012.
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) November 30, 2015
2015 Postseason shares announced: @Royals World Series Champion share worth $370,069.03; @Mets NL Champion share worth $300,757.78.
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) November 30, 2015
The average share value for the @Mets was a record high for a World Series runner-up, eclipsing $291,667.68 for the 2006 AL Champion @tigers
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) November 30, 2015
The players' pool was divided among the Royals, Mets, Blue Jays, Cubs, Rangers, Cardinals, Astros, Dodgers, Yankees and Pirates. It's likely the record-setting pool was a result of the Mets, Blue Jays, Cubs and Astros snapping longstanding postseason droughts.
"The players' pool is formed from 50 percent of the gate receipts from the Wild Card Games presented by Budweiser; 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first three games of the Division Series; 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the League Championship Series; and 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the World Series," Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com writes.
The presence of big market teams such as the Mets, Cubs and Blue Jays also likely played an enormous role since New York, Chicago and Toronto are among the more lucrative markets in the MLB. The Mets hadn't been to the postseason since 2006, the Cubs since 2008 and the Blue Jays since 1993. It's safe to say those fan bases were eager to pay whatever price to attend a playoff game.
