1963 Los Angeles Dodgers join Joey Bishop in Copa Room at Sands in Las Vegas

Joey Bishop performs on stage with Los Angeles Dodgers, from left, Frank Howard (25), Tommy Davis (12), Ron Perranoski (16), Willie Davis (3) Don Drysdale (53) and Bill Skowron (14) at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

Joey Bishop directs Los Angeles Dodgers Bill Skowron (14), Frank Howard (25) and Ron Perranoski while performing at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

Los Angeles Dodgers Willie Davis (3) and Tommy Davis (12) perform with other Dodgers and Joey Bishop at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Davis (12) plays a melodica while performing with other Dodgers and Joey Bishop at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

Joey Bishop performs on stage with Los Angeles Dodgers, from left, Frank Howard (25), Tommy Davis (12), Ron Perranoski (16), Willie Davis (3), Don Drysdale (53, in tuxedo), and Bill Skowron (14) at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

Joey Bishop performs on stage with Los Angeles Dodgers, from left, Frank Howard (25), Tommy Davis (12), Ron Perranoski (16), Don Drysdale (53, in tuxedo), Willie Davis (3) and Bill Skowron (14) at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

Don Drysdale poses with his wife Ginger and daughter Kelly and he and other Los Angeles Dodgers performed on stage with Joey Bishop at the Sands in Las Vegas, Nevada December 21, 1963. (Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive)

When you read about the nine-figure contracts handed out this past offseason by Major League Baseball owners, it might be hard to realize that players at one time had to find a job after the last putout was made to keep their families fed.

For some players, it might have been with local car dealerships or businesses looking for a star to help with promotion. For the 1963 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, it meant filling some time on stage at the Sands with Joey Bishop.

After sweeping the New York Yankees in the Fall Classic, six Dodgers — pitchers Don Drysdale and Ron Perranoski, outfielders Tommy Davis, Willie Davis and Frank Howard, and first baseman Bill “Moose” Skowron — hammed it up with one of the members of “The Rat Pack” on Dec. 21, 1963, in the famed Copa Room.

Being close to Las Vegas didn’t hurt finding that offseason employment.

While the ’63 Dodgers entertained the Sands guests, the 1964 National League roster was not as fortunate during its repeat bid. The Dodgers finished 80-82 in a tie for sixth, 13 games behind the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Contact Tony Garcia at tgarcia@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307. Follow @TonyGLVNews on Twitter.