The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues was formed in 1901 in Chicago. The first meeting took place in Auburn and native Auburnian John H. Farrell was elected secretary-treasurer, a position he held for 34 years.

Farrell was one of the most powerful men in baseball as he had jurisdiction over salaries, players' records, statistics and was chairman of the board of arbitration. His office was located in the Flint Building on Genesee Street and 90 percent of all decisions in organized baseball controversies were rendered by him.

Among my baseball memorabilia are several record books and copies of contracts I obtained from family members and friends of Farrell after his death. Two of my prize pieces are a copy of the contract when the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919 for $25,000 and the approved contracts and salaries of the 1927 Yankee team - probably the greatest team in Yankee history.

Today, whenever baseball is discussed, the conversation always gets around to the ridiculous salaries. I took a look at the salaries of the Yankees on opening day in 2005 and compared them with the pay given to the great Yankee club of 1927.

The team of 79 years ago won the American League pennant by 19 games ahead of a strong Philadelphia Athletics club. It set a record of 110 victories. It was also the year Ruth reached his peak in home runs with 60 and a young Lou Gehrig drove in 175 runs, a major league record. The Yankees also swept the World Series from a powerful Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Ruth received a salary of $70,000, a remarkable paycheck in those days but first baseman Gehrig, a long ball hitter, was paid only $9,000 for the season. Second baseman Tony Lazzeri, another great Yankee slugger, played for $8,000 a season. Mark Koenig, a Yankee star, was paid $7,000.

The 2005 Yankees had 19 millionaires on their 25-man opening day roster. Alex Rodriguez, topped not only the Bronx Bombers but all of baseball with a salary of $25,705,118. Shortstop Derek Jeter and pitcher Mike Mussina, both hit the $19 million mark in salaries. The lowest-paid Yankee last season was utility infielder Andy Phillips, who collected $317,000.

Second in high salaries was home run hitter Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants who was paid $22 million last season. The Yankees had the No. 1 payroll with a grand total of $208,306, 817. Top salary in the National League was paid by the New York Mets - $101, 305, 821. Former catcher Mike Piazza topped the player list with $16,071,429. Boston was runner-up to the Yanks in total payroll of 123,505,125

- Boyd Coffie, who managed pennant-winning teams for the Auburn Twins in 1968 and 1970 and was runner-up in 1971, is seriously ill, battling cancer. I am sure Boyd would appreciate a card from old Auburn fans. His address is: 136 Country Road 581; Athens, Tenn. 37303.

- The Auburn Doubledays are again seeking the NCAA region baseball tournament. Last year's event at Falcon Park was a huge success.