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Thank you @gmorgenson for bringing this important MLB MLBPA pension story to life. It is not just the pre-1980 players that have issues.
Pension, stipend and benefits are all part of the next CBA and these issues have not been mentioned by either side and are almost entirely ignored by the press.
Too many are resigned to the opinion of "waiting for us to die."
Pension, stipend and benefits are all part of the next CBA and these issues have not been mentioned by either side and are almost entirely ignored by the press.
Too many are resigned to the opinion of "waiting for us to die."
"Waiting for us to die." Ex-MLB stars call out the multi-billion-dollar league on unjust retirement pay. nbcnews.com/news/us-news/f…
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How teams handled their Bittercuppers is wild: the Cardinals lead with 25 pitchers, while the Cubs top the board with 27 position players.
Full team-by-team chart of Pitchers vs. Position players
Full team-by-team chart of Pitchers vs. Position players
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One Bittercupper today, Butch Metzger, Rookie of the Year 1976 sabr.org/bioproj/person…
Kurt Bevacqua is doing the dirty business of MLBPA pension reform. Pre-1992 MLB pensioners have had limited COLA to their pensions. nbcnews.com/news/us-news/f…
Corked bat aside, Graig Nettles is F consideration. sabr.org/bioproj/person…
The original "Iron Man" Joe McGinnity earned his legendary nickname by working in an iron foundry during the offseasons and pitching complete-game doubleheaders. He is featured in the great book: The Unforgettable Season by G. H. Fleming
nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/97…
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1303 9/9:
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Play at:
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Kurt Bevacqua is doing the dirty business of MLBPA pension reform. Pre-1992 MLB pensioners have had limited COLA to their pensions. nbcnews.com/news/us-news/f…
Corked bat aside, Graig Nettles is F consideration. sabr.org/bioproj/person…
The original "Iron Man" Joe McGinnity earned his legendary nickname by working in an iron foundry during the offseasons and pitching complete-game doubleheaders. He is featured in the great book: The Unforgettable Season by G. H. Fleming
nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/97…
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1303 9/9:
Rarity: 9
IMMACULATE!
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Play at:
sports-reference.com/immaculate-gri…
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Dave Coleman’s 76th birthday
The Dayton, Ohio outfielder who:
Was drafted by the Red Sox in the 18th round of the 1969 draft from Stebbins High School
Debuted April 13, 1977 and appeared in 11 games
Finished 0-for-12 with one walk, three strikeouts
He scored one run as a astrzemski on April 27, 1977 (retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/…)
Was traded to the Twins in 1979 for Larry Wolfe and never played in the majors again
Spent eight seasons at Triple-A and led the Venezuelan League in doubles for the 1978–1979 season with Magallanes
#DirtyWater
The Dayton, Ohio outfielder who:
Was drafted by the Red Sox in the 18th round of the 1969 draft from Stebbins High School
Debuted April 13, 1977 and appeared in 11 games
Finished 0-for-12 with one walk, three strikeouts
He scored one run as a astrzemski on April 27, 1977 (retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/…)
Was traded to the Twins in 1979 for Larry Wolfe and never played in the majors again
Spent eight seasons at Triple-A and led the Venezuelan League in doubles for the 1978–1979 season with Magallanes
#DirtyWater
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5 Bittercuppers this Sunday
Cleveland has 22 pitchers and 10 position players on the bittercupbaseball.com list.
Texas has 24 pitchers and 12 position players.
Cleveland has 22 pitchers and 10 position players on the bittercupbaseball.com list.
Texas has 24 pitchers and 12 position players.
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Skip Guinn was selected by Montreal Expos from Atlanta Braves (17th pick overall) in the expansion draft.
Donn Clendenon refused to report to the Houston Astros in early 1969 because of a strong personal conflict with newly hired Astros manager Harry Walker. Clendenon had alker in Pittsburgh. The Expos send Jack Billingham, Skip Guinn, and $100,000 instead. Guinn, a southpaw, struck out 140 in 120 innings in the Florida State League and 171 in 169 innings in the Carolina League. He appears in 35 games over 3 seasons.
He is the grandfather of #ThisismyCrew @Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison.
#postseason Card by @wthballs
Donn Clendenon refused to report to the Houston Astros in early 1969 because of a strong personal conflict with newly hired Astros manager Harry Walker. Clendenon had alker in Pittsburgh. The Expos send Jack Billingham, Skip Guinn, and $100,000 instead. Guinn, a southpaw, struck out 140 in 120 innings in the Florida State League and 171 in 169 innings in the Carolina League. He appears in 35 games over 3 seasons.
He is the grandfather of #ThisismyCrew @Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison.
#postseason Card by @wthballs
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Buddy Gilbert is the lone bittercupper today. 91 with no MLBPA pension or benefits.
NEPTA the rest.
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1301 9/9:
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IMMACULATE!
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Play at:
sports-reference.com/immaculate-gri…
NEPTA the rest.
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1301 9/9:
Rarity: 6
IMMACULATE!
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🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
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Gary "Truth" Serum makes his debut on July 22, 1977. He allows a single to Rance Mulliniks then retires the next six batters.
"Truth" is one of only three players the Twins ever signed from a tryout camp who reached the majors.
Serum throws a two-hit shutout of the Blue Jays on .co/oYilMcfTSq
Finished 10-12 with a 4.72 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 62 games over three seasons. Later opened Serum's Good Time Emporium restaurant in Anoka, MN which is still going strong. serumsanoka.com
#truth #MNTwins #postseason
"Truth" is one of only three players the Twins ever signed from a tryout camp who reached the majors.
Serum throws a two-hit shutout of the Blue Jays on .co/oYilMcfTSq
Finished 10-12 with a 4.72 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 62 games over three seasons. Later opened Serum's Good Time Emporium restaurant in Anoka, MN which is still going strong. serumsanoka.com
#truth #MNTwins #postseason
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The 1980 MLB MLBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) created a rule change for pension eligibility, lowering the requirement from four seasons to 43 roster days. However, this change was not retroactive, meaning players from 1947 to 1979 who had more than 43 days of service time but fewer than four full seasons were not eligible for a pension under the new agreement. There are currently 466 known living players who are not vested in the pension program because of this. There have been NINE CBAs since that have put this shrinking list of former MLB baseball players Out In The Cold.
Great article on this by @OfficialMLBRFC ballnine.com/2021/10/01/col…
Great article on this by @OfficialMLBRFC ballnine.com/2021/10/01/col…
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5 Bittercuppers plus the late Jim Dickson.
The Royals are difficult with only 12 on the bittercupbaseball.com list.
Arlie Latham was the 19th Century version of Rickey Henderson.
Johnny Evers is still 5th on #Cubs All Time Stolen Base leaders.
I know I had several Dickie Thon cards as a kid.
The Royals are difficult with only 12 on the bittercupbaseball.com list.
Arlie Latham was the 19th Century version of Rickey Henderson.
Johnny Evers is still 5th on #Cubs All Time Stolen Base leaders.
I know I had several Dickie Thon cards as a kid.
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The story is this: In the 1980 MLB MLBPA CBA agreement, players from 1947-79, who were not vested with the then required 4 full seasons, were cut of out receiving pension and benefits under the new agreement which significantly lowered service time requirements. Eligibility went from four full seasons to 43 roster days.
Since 2011, there is a stipend, which is pre-tax and has no death benefit or access to the health plan. It is $718.75 per 43 days of service time with a cap at $11,500 per year. This amount is roughly 10-15% of the current MLBPA pension.
Previous CBA did grandfather former players when the pension eligibility was lowered from five full seasons to four in 1969. It gets a little complicated from there; however, there are over 460 still alive who would have been pension eligible had they been on the roster for a single game after April 1, 1980. Both MLB and the MLBPA can correct this at any time.
The average age of these men is 79 and this list grows shorter every month. bittercupbaseball.com
Since 2011, there is a stipend, which is pre-tax and has no death benefit or access to the health plan. It is $718.75 per 43 days of service time with a cap at $11,500 per year. This amount is roughly 10-15% of the current MLBPA pension.
Previous CBA did grandfather former players when the pension eligibility was lowered from five full seasons to four in 1969. It gets a little complicated from there; however, there are over 460 still alive who would have been pension eligible had they been on the roster for a single game after April 1, 1980. Both MLB and the MLBPA can correct this at any time.
The average age of these men is 79 and this list grows shorter every month. bittercupbaseball.com
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Max Effgen retweeted
Even as a Hall of Famer, he’s still making great plays.
Join us in wishing Ichiro Suzuki a happy 53rd birthday!
Join us in wishing Ichiro Suzuki a happy 53rd birthday!
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7 Bittercuppers this Thursday for the Big Zero
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1299 9/9:
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⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1299 9/9:
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Funding annual stipends for all 466 surviving pre-1980 non-vested Major League ballplayers requires between 0.83% and 1.33% of MLB's 2026 Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) pool.
Stipend & Benefit Breakdown
- Quarterly Rate: $718.75 per quarter of accrued service time. That is 43 MLB rostual: ~10 quarters across an average of ~2.6 seasons.
- Average Payout: $7,187.50 per player annually.
- Maximum Cap: 16 quarters ($11,500 annually).
- Survivor Protections: $0.00 — payments end immediately upon death, providing no surviving spouse or family benefit.
With luxury tax collections surpassing $402 million in 2026, fully funding these non-vested pioneers accounts for less than 1.4 cents of every tax dollar paid by high-spending clubs. With an average age of 79 and zero death benefits available to surviving families, resolving this pension disparity represents an urgently diminishing window of opportunity for Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association.
Demographics of the Surviving 466 Retirees
Living Roster: 466 recognized pre-1980 ballplayers with 43+ days of service time who remain excluded from full pension benefits.
Age Distribution:
- Average & Median Age: 79 years old.
- Oldest Living: 97 years old (Bob Ross).
- Youngest Living: 67 years old (Brian Greer).
Positional Split:
- Pitchers: 55.6% (259 players).
- Position Players: 44.4% (207 players).
- Career Experience: Average of 2.63 seasons of service credit.
Full list bittercupbaseball.com
Stipend & Benefit Breakdown
- Quarterly Rate: $718.75 per quarter of accrued service time. That is 43 MLB rostual: ~10 quarters across an average of ~2.6 seasons.
- Average Payout: $7,187.50 per player annually.
- Maximum Cap: 16 quarters ($11,500 annually).
- Survivor Protections: $0.00 — payments end immediately upon death, providing no surviving spouse or family benefit.
With luxury tax collections surpassing $402 million in 2026, fully funding these non-vested pioneers accounts for less than 1.4 cents of every tax dollar paid by high-spending clubs. With an average age of 79 and zero death benefits available to surviving families, resolving this pension disparity represents an urgently diminishing window of opportunity for Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association.
Demographics of the Surviving 466 Retirees
Living Roster: 466 recognized pre-1980 ballplayers with 43+ days of service time who remain excluded from full pension benefits.
Age Distribution:
- Average & Median Age: 79 years old.
- Oldest Living: 97 years old (Bob Ross).
- Youngest Living: 67 years old (Brian Greer).
Positional Split:
- Pitchers: 55.6% (259 players).
- Position Players: 44.4% (207 players).
- Career Experience: Average of 2.63 seasons of service credit.
Full list bittercupbaseball.com
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5 on the Bittercupbaseball.com list
Shawn Green's book is great.
1 Dog at 3? Thought I had a steal there.
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1298 9/9:
Rarity: 6
IMMACULATE!
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🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
sports-reference.com/immaculate-gri…
Shawn Green's book is great.
1 Dog at 3? Thought I had a steal there.
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1298 9/9:
Rarity: 6
IMMACULATE!
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩
Play at:
sports-reference.com/immaculate-gri…
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Chicago White Sox lead the Bitter Cup list with the most pre-1980 non-vested players with 44.
Cubs and Cardinals are right behind them at 41.
Expansion clubs like the Blue Jays and Mariners have the fewest.
These men helped build the modern game and union but got left behind 43 days in 1980. The last 9 Major League Collective Bargaining Agreements (80, 85, 90, 96/97, 02, 06, 11, 16, 22) still do not treat these men on equal terms.
Same union. Same dues. Different outcome.
Cubs and Cardinals are right behind them at 41.
Expansion clubs like the Blue Jays and Mariners have the fewest.
These men helped build the modern game and union but got left behind 43 days in 1980. The last 9 Major League Collective Bargaining Agreements (80, 85, 90, 96/97, 02, 06, 11, 16, 22) still do not treat these men on equal terms.
Same union. Same dues. Different outcome.
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Skip James spent years in the minors: California League MVP in 1972, then a .308 season for Phoenix in 1977. Classic "AAA": Called up to the big club but did not report in 73, 74, and 75.
The Giants gave him 51 games from 9/6/77 to 6/15/78. He hit .167, but 1 of his 6 hits was a inst the Dodgers (retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/…).
In 1980 he went to Japan and hit 21 home runs for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales. The first came off Suguru Egawa, one of Japan's best, and they called him the "Egawa killer", a reference to Seisuke Toyoda.
MLB pinch-hitter. Japan power hitter.
#SFGiants Card by @wthballs
The Giants gave him 51 games from 9/6/77 to 6/15/78. He hit .167, but 1 of his 6 hits was a inst the Dodgers (retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/…).
In 1980 he went to Japan and hit 21 home runs for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales. The first came off Suguru Egawa, one of Japan's best, and they called him the "Egawa killer", a reference to Seisuke Toyoda.
MLB pinch-hitter. Japan power hitter.
#SFGiants Card by @wthballs
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