In the last couple of months, both Wade McGilberry and Dallas Braden pitched perfect baseball games. Only Braden is a pro athlete. But McGilberry makes a lot more money.
McGilberry won $1,000,000 for pitching his perfect game in early March. His feat that occurred in MLB 2K10 in early March. The money came via a contest from the company behind the game, 2K Sports.
Braden, who pitched his perfect game for the Oakland A's this past Mother's Day, will take home a mere $420,000 this year, according to ESPN, despite retiring his 27 consecutive batters in real life.
Maybe Braden picked the wrong type of baseball.
But let's look at this as a list, using the most recent five real-life perfect games, and one virtual one, to be sure...
-New York Yankee David Wells pitches perfect (real) game on May 17, 1998. Baseball earnings for that year: $4,666,666 [Source]
-New York Yankee David Cone pitches perfect (real) game on July 18, 1999. Baseball earnings for that year: $9,500,000 [Source]
-Arizona Diamondbacks ace Randy Johnson pitches perfect (real) game on May 18, 2004. Baseball earnings for that year: $16,000,000. [Source]
-Chicago White Sox star Mark Buehrle pitches perfect (real) game on July 23, 2009. Baseball earnings for that year: $14,000,000 [Source]
-Wade McGilberry pitches perfect (virtual) game on March 2, 2010. Baseball earnings for that year: $1,000,000
-Oakland A's newcomer Dallas Braden pitches perfect (real) game on May 9, 2010. Baseball earnings for this year: $420,000.
Well, maybe it's still a better deal to pitch real baseball. Except this year. Mr. McGilberry, lend Mr. Braden a few bucks if he needs it, ok?