Feb. 3, 1965 - Rocky Colavito (pictured in 1957) signed his 1965 contract with the Cleveland Indians today for an amount estimated to be $55,000.
The agreement, announced by Gabe Paul, the Indians’ president and general manager, was reached after a 1½-hour conference with the 31-year-old slugging outfielder at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
Paul and Colavito declined to confirm the amount, but Colavito, who last year earned a salary reported to be $52,500 with the Kansas City Athletics, said, “I’ll have to say I got a raise. I’m very happy, and I’m sure the club is, too.”
Paul merely said, “You’re looking at a happy, satisfied, and capable ballplayer — and a happy general manager.”
The agreement was reached “with a minimum of difficulty,” Paul said. Colavito had been a holdout with Kansas City last year, finally signing in mid-March.
“We are a contender,” Paul added, “if everyone plays up to his best ability. But remember, the league is very evenly balanced.”
Colavito, who will start his 10th season in the majors, played four years with the Tribe before moving to Detroit for four years and Kansas City for one. He has hit 302 home runs in nine years with 905 RBI’s. In five of the last seven seasons, he has driven in more than 100 runs. With the last-place A’s, Rocky hit 34 home runs, drove in 102, and had a .274 batting average last season.

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