--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Between 1999 and 2002, the Yankees paid…" description: "\"“Between 1999 and 2002, the Yankees paid over three times what the A’s paid for the average player on their roster. The Yankee payroll was $130 million..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_baseball_between-1999-and-2002-the-yankees-paid-o_2704393.jpg" --- # Between 1999 and 2002, the Yankees paid over three times… ![“Between 1999 and 2002, the Yankees paid over three times what the A’s paid for the average player on their roster. The Yankee payroll was $130 million in 2002; that of the A’s, just $40 million. Yet the difference in performance between the two teams was surprisingly small considering the vast…” quote by Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_baseball_between-1999-and-2002-the-yankees-paid-o_2704393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_baseball_between-1999-and-2002-the-yankees-paid-o_2704393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_baseball_between-1999-and-2002-the-yankees-paid-o_2704393.jpg) > ““Between 1999 and 2002, the Yankees paid over three times what the A’s paid for the average player on their roster. The Yankee payroll was $130 million in 2002; that of the A’s, just $40 million. Yet the difference in performance between the two teams was surprisingly small considering the vast difference in salaries. The Yankees made the championship playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002, but so did the A’s. The Yankees did go all the way to the World Series in 2000 and 2001, and won it in 2000. But during the 2002 regular season, the A’s and the Yankees each won 103 games. Just think what the A’s might have accomplished with the combination of evidence and unlimited budget.”” [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shows that high payroll does not guarantee superior performance, suggesting diminishing returns. **In simple terms:** Big spending doesn’t always win. Key Takeaway Evaluate efficiency over expense. Themes economics performance efficiency Mood analytical critical Type informative analytical When to use this quote - team budgeting - salary negotiations - performance metrics Key Concepts resource allocation diminishing returns Questions to Reflect On - How to measure true value? - What limits spending impact? 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The Yankees made the championship playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002, but so did the A’s. The Yankees did go all the way to the World Series in 2000 and 2001, and won it in 2000. But during the 2002 regular season, the A’s and the Yankees each won 103 games. 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