Hegrew up on a farm and excelled in a variety of sports at Perquimans County High School. The following is excerpted fromDynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finleys Swingin As. well, they were breaking new ground. . Select from premium Catfish Hunter of the highest quality. If we win in the courts and the Yankees have played him prior to our winning, the Yankees certainly will be in for tremendous damages.. Pen used by Jim "Catfish" Hunter to sign a five-year contract estimated at $3.75 million with the New York Yankees on December 31, 1974. So the Yankees beat out the Pirates, Dodgers, Padres, Royals, Expos and Cleveland for Hunters services. I cant see how anyone can say hes a free agent. The trouble with that logic was that Hunter, like any employee in any profession, was entitled to the terms of his contract, and accepting a check for which hed have to pay taxes was not within those terms. I did everything I could to live up to the contract, but he still has not paid the money, Hunter told him. Hunter signed with the Yankees for $3.75 million over five years, proving that a market for veteran free . My favorite player of all time. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Hunter told hima five-year deal with 15 years of deferred money at $100,000 per season, plus college funds for his kids and a variety of perks to be determined. Amanda responds by asking, "Who's he?" Finleys bombardment peaked in August. It was from Finley. (b) Suppose that the contracted payments had been made to the insurance company from April 16, 1974 through September 30, 1974, and that they accumulated at an annual effective interest rate of 6%. James Augustus Hunter (April 8, 1946 September 9, 1999), nicknamed "Catfish", was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB). For three weeks in December 1974, Cherrys firm became the most prominent entity on baseballs landscape, the result of the lawyers decision to avoid sending his client on a tour of interested parties and instead bring the parties to him. (Hunter died on September 9, 1999, so he would not have received a January 1, 2000 annuity payment.). Dec. 31, 1974: Catfish Hunter, five . As it all unfolded Hunter received a personal letter at his own PO box in Hertford that read, in part, I naturally feel that the arbitrator, in making his decision, exceeded his authority and jurisdiction. Catfish Hunter was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Jim "Catfish" Hunter helped the Yankees to three American League pennants and two World Series titles after leaving the Athletics following the 1974 season. For this reason, he declined to choose a team; accordingly, his plaque depicts him with no logo on his cap. That was the biggest thing that ever came to Ahoskie (N.C.).. The youngest son of eight children, Hunter was born and raised in Hertford in northeast North Carolina. Pittsburgh offered $3.75 million for five years, plus, among other perks, limited partnership in five new Wal-Mart stores. Couldnt be worse than Finley, Kluttz reasoned, plus hes just as serious about winning. The catfish fish (under the chicken) was fried to perfection and seasoned well. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. [2], In 1990, Hunter was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Hunter came back to the Yankees that July, when they were still 13 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East. Catfish Hunter, the Hall of Fame right-hander who helped pitch the Oakland A's and the Yankees to six pennants in the 1970's, hurled a perfect game and was part of an economic revolution in. 12,369th in major league history) Ahoskie, N.C., population 5,500, was the big city close to Hunters home in Hertford, about an hours drive to the northwest. Hunter has been the subject of numerous popular culture references, including the Bob Dylan song "Catfish". All because the quiet man from Hertford, N.C., didnt legally belong to anybody after it was ruled that he could leave Charlie Finleys As and make his own choices about where he wanted to pitch next. us, Died: When the 24-year-old finished the 1970 season with an 18-14 recordtantalizingly close to his first 20-win campaignhe knew just where to look for the two missing victories. By early August Finley was sufficiently concerned to urge Hunter to accept a straight payment of $50,000. He recovered in La Porte, Indiana, at the farm of Athletics owner Charles O. Starting with Catfish Hunter's landmark contract for the 1975 season, let's go back and find the pitchers who set the marks for highest total value contract. That left them about 12 hours to finalize things. May 13, 1965 But a free agent of Hunter's experience and status was unheard of. [2][3] A story circulated that his family gave him the nickname as a child when he went missing and was later found with a string of catfish; there is no truth to that explanation. In 1976, Hunter was also the subject of the Bobby Hollowell song "The Catfish Kid (Ballad of Jim Hunter)", which was performed by Big Tom White and released on a 45 RPM single. He was owed $100,000 total in 1974, with $50,000 to be paid to him directly from Finley and the remaining half to be issued in monthly payments on an insurance annuity. He tells the managers who to pitch and when. Or write about sports? Continuing his explanation of why he picked the Yankees, Hunter said, To be a Yankee is a thought in everyone's head and mine. Gabe Paul, the Yankee president, refused to disclose monetary terms but it was believed to be a $3.75million package. Hunter, Kluttz, and a coterie of lawyers from Cherrys office met Greenwalds plane at the Suffolk Airport in Virginia, some 45 minutes away. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. After a bidding war that included nearly every MLB team, the Yankees and Catfish Hunter ink a five-year/$3.75 million contract. Catfish Hunter was also a competent hitter, with a career batting average of .226; in 1971 he hit .350 with 36 hits in 38 games. Paul was vibrant when he called Flythe back. 1972-74 Oakland Athletics, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ "We don't belong to anybody", he told his wife.[2]. The conflict was leaking out to the press by the time Finley, under pressure from Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, finally offered Hunter the insurance payments in a lump sum. I hung up the phone, Hunter said at the time when he learned of the ruling, and turned to my wife and said, We dont belong to anybody.. The deal makes him the highest paid player in baseball . The benefit to Finley was that he got to hold on to the money in the interim, earning interest on it all the while. Exceeded rookie limits during 1965 season, View Player Bio Regal. There were two flaws to this argument. Jim "Catfish" Hunter holds Yankee emblem after signing multi-million dollar contract. He was a man of loyalty. Telling the pitcher to lay low until the end of the season, the agent said that hed visit Cherry in North Carolina over the winter to work out details. Catfish Hunter. Finley was on the hook for the outstanding $50,000, plus interest, for Hunters services in 1974, and because he had not fulfilled the players contract, it was theretofore terminated. One of the ironic parts of this story -- still such a huge story and turning point in baseball history -- is that even though it was the beginning of the way George Steinbrenner would also change baseball forever, Steinbrenner was suspended from the game at the time because of illegal contributions to the Richard Nixon presidential campaign (a felony for which he was eventually pardoned). The votes of the first two membersMiller, on behalf of the players, and John Gaherin, the owners chief negotiatorcanceled each other out. . As expected, Kuhn declared such a penalty to be too severe. From that point on, every deal Hunter made with Finley was extensively documented, with signatures from each party in all the appropriate places. That left things up to Peter Seitz, a 69-year-old litigator with nearly two decades of arbitration experience across numerous industries. Just walking into Yankee Stadium chills, run through you. . According to Paul, the Yankees signed Hunter last night rather than wait until 1975 on the advice of Greenwald, their tax lawyer. Catfish Hunter Stats, Fantasy & News. It didnt take long for the $1 million predictions to be blown from the water. When we started winning in Oakland, Cat was the father of those teams, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said. But before Steinbrenner had gone off to serve his suspension, hed said this to Paul: Any time you have the opportunity to get control of a player for cash, go ahead.. I hung up the phone, turned to my wife and said, We don't belong to anybody. I was scared. As soon as the season ended Hunter raced home to arrange for a second loan to cover the first, but gave up when a boundary-line dispute delayed the proceedings. In 2004, the Oakland Athletics began the Catfish Hunter Award. I was probably the first player who broke it open for other players to be paid what they're worth, Hunter said. For reasons that remain nebulous to this day, Finley failed to make a $50,000 life insurance annuity payment on behalf of Jim "Catfish" Hunter, even though it was clearly stipulated in the ace pitcher's contract. I told him, I don't want it that way. Hunter got off to a rough start going 03 in his first three starts, but settled down and was named to his seventh All-Star team. Before seeing Cherry, however, he stopped at the Tomahawk Motel to meet Kluttz for a cup of coffee. Please email us if you have further information on the rights status of an image contrary to or in addition to the information in our records. But he told great stories. For more information or access to a high resolution reproduction (some fees may apply), contact: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330. Before baseball adopted its freeagent draft, major league clubs competed for young prospects and frequently paid upwards of $100,000. It started with Catfish making $640,000 a year for five years. The Royals weighed in with $137,500 per year for six years, money for the farm, college tuition for Hunters kids, and a figure that nearly got the pitcher to sign on the spot$50,000 a year for life. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Finley remained bewildered, at least publicly. He was owed $100,000 total in 1974, with $50,000 to be paid to him directly from Finley and the remaining half to be issued in monthly payments on an insurance annuity. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. Finley, he said, you pay it the way the contract reads, and everything will be just fine. Finley launched into histrionics, crying to MacPhail, What can I do? The Rangers discussed a generous straight salary, plus a farm annuity, plus $30,000 a year for 15 years. Recouping his loan to Hunter was among the Owners quickest paths to solvency. The money Hunter made when he signed that night at the Yankees old offices in the Parks Administration Building (in Flushing, Queens, of all places) seems quaint in comparison to the money modern free agents now make. Thats more money than we wanted to pay, he exuded, but well do it., There was only one catch. Cedarwood Cemetery, Hertford, NC, High School: Perquimans HS (Perquimans, NC), Debut: FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, Sports Illustrated, Jason Turbow/Sports Illustrated, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Buttermaker asks, "Who do you think you are, Catfish Hunter?" On Feb. 11, 1974, Hunter agreed with Finley on a two-year deal at $100,000 peronly the second multiyear contract the Owner ever awarded. September 9, 1999 Hunter's contract with the A's was straightforward. Desperate to find a suitable arrangement, he even offered up insanity: a 10-year contract at $15,000 per season in lieu of the $150,000 that he owed. Asked if Hunter's high salary would affect the morale of the other players, Paul said, The morale of the club is helped when you add a man of Hunter's status. Hadnt he stuck with him through his hunting accident? [6] He became the American League's first perfect game pitcher since Charlie Robertson in 1922 (excluding Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series), as well as the franchise's first no-hit pitcher since Bill McCahan in 1947 with what were then the Philadelphia Athletics. Hunter was declared a free agent after Finley failed to make certain payments called for his in contract. He exemplified class and dignity and he taught us how to win. That is exactly how Cherry wrote the addendum: $50,000 per year, to be paid at regular intervals through the season, and $50,000 disbursed to an entity of Hunters choosing. Peter Seitz, who declared Hunter free in a breach-of-contract . I was in my office for half a day and I was wearing a sweat shirt, related Greenwald, a leading tax attorney. He was a man of honor. Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. They drove up to a little landing strip in Suffolk, Va., and we landed in New York at 5:30. Born: 8-Apr-1946 Birthplace: Hertford, NC Died: 9-Sep-1999 Location of . Starting with Catfish Hunter's landmark contract for the 1975 season, let's go back and find the pitchers who set the marks for highest total value contract. By the end of the 1974 season, Jim Catfish Hunter was the ace on baseballs best team. American, Southern, Vegetarian options $$$$ Catfish had won 106 games over the previous five years and had just been voted the American Leagues best pitcher and was still only 28 years old. Bio/Historical NotePen used by Jim "Catfish" Hunter to sign a five-year contract estimated at $3.75 million with the New York Yankees on December 31, 1974. You have breakfast with that boy tomorrow morning, she insisted. Bob Dylan wrote the song "Catfish" in 1975. What position did Catfish Hunter play? On Dec. 16, Seitz formally upheld Hunters grievance but failed to mention the crucial out clause that would grant the pitcher freedom. Lets get this out of the way, he told the pitcher. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. Order online. In obtaining Hunter, the Yankees immeasurably improved their chances for winning their first pennant since 1964. Select from premium Catfish Hunter of the highest quality. Please note that not all works are on view at all times - their availability is subject to change per the discretion of the Museum staff. Seizing the opportunity, the Owner brought MacPhail into the clubhouse, where he found Hunter and offered him a check for the outstanding $50,000 on his contract. [8] Twenty days later on December 16, arbitrator Peter Seitz decided in favor of Hunter, officially making him a free agent. This placed more strain on the financial reserves of Charles O. Finley & Company than anticipated. He found Hunter chock-full of questions. Only an hour after the World Series ended, even as Oakland players celebrated in their clubhouse, the union filed two grievancesone against Finley for breach of contract, another against Kuhn and Major League Baseball for failure to declare Hunter a free agent. Hunter is mentioned in the 1976 film The Bad News Bears. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Jim (Catfish) Hunter signed a fiveyear contract estimated at $3.75million with the New York Yankees last night, ending the most celebrated bidding war in American sports history. Hunter listened, and never spent a day in the minors. I thought it might be too drastic for an arbitrator.. For more information or access to a high resolution reproduction (some fees may apply), contact: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330. The land was important to Hunter, who as a local farmer possessed innate understanding of its value. A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. As the room began to fill, the two sides were still finalizing details. I believe there was a higher offer, but no matter how much money offered, if you want to be a Yankee, you don't think about it.. If you didn't know he was making that kind of money, you'd never guess it because he was humble, very reserved about being a star-type player almost a little bit shy. He also won four times without losing in the World Series. The New York Yankees signed Hunter to a five-year, $3,750,000 contract.) You know Jim and he knows you. So was Catfish Hunter.". Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. An arbitration hearing took place on Nov. 26 in New York. The bidding war reached its climax on New Years Eve, when the New York Yankees announced that they had landed Hunter. . [21] Hunter became known as baseball's "first big-money free agent".[2]. Early speculation said that it might take as much as $1 million to lock him up. The Owner immediately sought a court order overturning Seitzs ruling. CREATIVE. And when it came time for the American League's 1974 Cy Young Award winner to make his choice, he was swayed not by the money but by Kluttz's involvement and the Yankee image. There was no questioning, however, that Catfish meant every word he said. Before long the Owner denied having agreed to anything, claiming he never saw the wording appended by Cherry. Jim (Catfish) Hunter signed a fiveyear contract estimated at $3.75million with the New York Yankees last night, ending the most celebrated bidding war in American sports history. Later he offered a bevy of excuses, including that the paperwork was lost. How . One was that Finley, while poring over the contract, added revisions in his own handwritinginstructions to his payroll department to earmark payments to whomever Hunter designated. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Jackson kept winning in New York the way he and Hunter -- whom Jackson once described as the boss of the old As -- had won those three World Series titles in Oakland. Second, so what if you're in the orchestra? Dont sign nothing else, Kluttz advised. In the Dodger Stadium press box, the agent laid it all out for the assembled media, adding that Hunter was not talking because his focus was on the World Series. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. "[42] Former teammate Lou Piniella said, "Catfish was a very unique guy. And what about the farm loan? Minor-league pitcher Jason Kosow portrayed Hunter in the ESPN miniseries The Bronx is Burning, which depicted the 1977 New York Yankees. Catfish Hunter was a Pitcher. Although his contemporaries were earning much moreTom Seaver made $173,000 in 1974, and Steve Carlton $165,000Catfish had no way of knowing that. Ring out the old. If it was not valid, that meant Catfish had been pitching contract-free, which would make him a free agent. Joked Burke, Well, we wont have to worry about that, will we? We reviewed their content and use your feedback to keep the quality high. On New Year's Eve, it shouldn't matter if. In his first season in New York, Hunter led the American League with 23 wins and 328 innings pitched. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. He had his best season in his last. I bought the sports jacket I'm wearing now and left by jet at about 2 o'clock. Just walking into Yankee Stadium, chills run through you. (Age 19-035d, When Miller and MLB Players Association counsel Dick Moss read the contract, they agreed with Hunters interpretation and sent written notice to Finley about the violation. But it was huge money at the time, ending what the New York Times called the most celebrated bidding war in American history.. Find Catfish Hunter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Many thanks to him. In the movie Grumpier Old Men, an enormous and highly prized fish is named "Catfish Hunter" by the locals. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. When the 1974 season opened, Finley made the standard payments every two weeks as agreed. While playing for the Yankees, Catfish Huntercontinued to perform well. Before and after his induction, Hunter spoke highly of his experiences with both the Athletics and Yankees and his appreciation for both team owners, Charlie Finley and George Steinbrenner. Hunter grew nervous, began losing sleep. His older brothers taught him to pitch,[2] and his pitching skill began to attract scouts from MLB teams to Hertford. Upon landing in New York at 6:00 p.m., the group sped to Pauls office, where they pored over the details, point by point. When you play with guys like that, you feel blessed."[42]. Data Provided By The total value of the pact sets a record for baseball. [2][11][12][13][14] He had been courted by 23 of the 24 teams, including the A's but not the San Francisco Giants,[15] and refused higher offers from the San Diego Padres and the Kansas City Royals. Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. Hunter eventually pitched in three World Series for the Yankees, after winning three straight championships with the As from 1972-74, before coming to New York. The Yankees, trying to regain the glory that was theirs until the last decade, landed the 28yearold righthander, considered by many experts to be baseball's premier pitcher, with an assist from Clyde Kluttz, a club scout. If you come to San Diego, he barked into the telephone, you can write your own check., Bavasi was informed that at that very moment Hunter was heading out the back door, to the airport and New York City. [18][19][20] Further details of Finley's history with Hunter gave the A's owner added negative publicity. After Hunter's death, former teammate Reggie Jackson described Hunter as a "fabulous human being. [39] His number 27 was retired by the Oakland Athletics in a pre-game ceremony on June 9, 1991, the first in the franchise's 90 year history.[38][40]. In 1974, baseball was still operating under the reserve clause, which stipulated that a team retained complete control of a player unless he was given his unconditional release. That was their signing of Dick Williams to manage the club after he resigned as manager of the A's with one year to go on his contract. [6] Hunter made his professional baseball debut in the Florida Instructional League in 1964 but otherwise never played in the minor leagues. Joseph Flythe, one of the attorneys from Ahoskie, N.C., said six other teamsPittsburgh, Los Angeles, Montreal, San Diego, Kansas City and Clevelandremained in the serious bidding until Hunter decided he wanted to join the Yankees. (California Angels owner) Gene Autry came down here handing out records of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hunter said. The executive raged about being used as a pawn to drive up other offers, but there was little he could do. Earlier reports said Hunter ing the deciding vote, took the action after Hunter charged that Charles O. Finley, owner of the Oakland A's, had breached his 1974 contract by not paying $50,000 of his $100,000 salary on a deferred payment basis to an insurance company by the stipulated time. He placed a call to Yankees minority partner Ed Greenwald, a prominent tax attorney in Cleveland, and together they concluded that they could make it work. Cherry spent the summers middle months peppering Finley with letters seeking fulfillment. Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1987. Bitter feelings from that exchange stayed with the pitcher for a long time, and informed his future actions. On the morning of the last day of the year Hunter drove to Ahoskie prepared to finalize a deal. A souvenir Yankees cap was propped atop Hunters head, and out he went, smiling, to face the crowd. . Watch. Round your answers to the nearest cent.) Im sure that he will be with us next season. Privately, he was less reticent. Twenty-two of the remaining 23 teams all but the San Francisco Giants entered the sweepstakes for baseballs best big game pitcher. Hunter's statistics while he was with the Athletics were impressive: four consecutive years with at least 20 wins, and four World Series wins without a loss. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. All proceeds from the weekend benefit ALS research. It was Padres GM Buzzie Bavasi, who had just received approval from owner Ray Kroc to increase his already enormous offer, worth $4.5 million, including cash, stock, and a McDonalds franchise. After the designated hitter was adopted by the . Hunter was the last major league pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season. But baseball had changed forever, years after a brave man named Curt Flood had his career end when he challenged the reserve clause all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. 1968 May 08. Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. Just a few months later, however, the Owner purchased the Memphis Pros of the American Basketball Association, supplementing the hockey team he had already acquired, the NHLs California Golden Seals. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? "How a contract breach led Catfish Hunter to become baseball's first real free agent", "Catfish forever altered economics of sports", "Catfish selects Yankees, Pirates offer short $ $", "Hunter ruling stands but Finley to appeal", "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Complete Games", "Blue Jays Beat Yanks; Hunter on Disabled List", "Catfish Hunter still planning on retirement", "Hunter regains consciousness after fall", "Ace pitcher and baseball's first free-agent star", "Hunter Is Buried in the Town Where He Learned Baseball", "Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center & Jim "Catfish" Hunter Museum", The ALS Association Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catfish_Hunter&oldid=1136285306, May 13,1965,for theKansas City Athletics, September 17,1979,for theNew York Yankees, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 16:54.
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