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. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Tuesday and Wednesday in office Clover Consulting has a large client in Lansing, MI that is seeking an experienced Project Manager. (Voted by BBWAA on 315/413 ballots) Hunter has been the subject of numerous popular culture references, including the Bob Dylan song "Catfish". Catfish Hunter signs free agent contract with New York Yankees, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. The following is excerpted fromDynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finleys Swingin As. All proceeds from the weekend benefit ALS research. 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. 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. [16] New York was closer to his home in North Carolina and the team played on natural grass. It was clear he was not buying Finley's story, when Charlie said he knew nothing about this and claimed he did not understand the deferred payments.. I was in my office for half a day and I was wearing a sweat shirt, related Greenwald, a leading tax attorney. On September 5, 2018, Hunter was inducted into the Oakland Athletics first Hall of Fame class, with wife, Helen, there to receive the honor. Hunter was by that time among baseballs best pitchers, with three straight 20-win seasons, three All-Star appearances in four years, and back-to-back top-five finishes in the Cy Young voting. "[42] Former teammate Lou Piniella said, "Catfish was a very unique guy. How . Jimmy, he asked, what would it take for you to come and play for the Yankees? Kluttz had no power to make an offer, but he had a direct line to somebody who did. To be a Yankee is a thought in everyones head and mine, Hunter said. The ramifications of Hunters landmark contract, meanwhile, were felt outside the Bronx. [23] Hunter was also a competent hitter, with a career batting average of .226; in 1971 he hit .350 with 36 hits in 38 games. A contract to play for the As in 1975, he said, would be arriving shortly. Dont sign nothing else, Kluttz advised. September 17, 1979 Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. [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. [7] He made his major league debut in May, and earned his first win on July 27 in Fenway Park over the Boston Red Sox. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Pittsburgh offered $3.75 million for five years, plus, among other perks, limited partnership in five new Wal-Mart stores. Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of images. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in his early 50s, and died of the disease about a year after his diagnosis. 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. Just like that, Major League Baseball had its first true free agent. See the article in its original context from. You started our success, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner told Hunter upon the pitchers induction to the Hall of Fame in 1987. When the 1974 season opened, Finley made the standard payments every two weeks as agreed. Catfish Hunter played for 3 teams; the Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. It was Catfish who, after being declared a free agent by an arbitrator in December 1974, was made baseball's highest-paid player by the New York Yankees. Hunter was to repay the money at a minimum of $20,000 per year, plus 6 percent interest, for as long as it took to get square. 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. [8] Twenty days later on December 16, arbitrator Peter Seitz decided in favor of Hunter, officially making him a free agent. I didn't realize the implications.. A decade later it was Kluttz, still tight with the pitcher, who suggested Hunters $200,000-per-year compromise offer to Finley. 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. The pact was consummated with a handshake, no contract necessary. . After a dispute over a technicality in his contract with Oakland A's owner, Charles O. Finley, Hunter had become the first free agent in baseball's modern era. Ring out the old. Seek out and celebrate your heroes, and explore online and in-person exhibits commemorating the history and impact of the game. (Age 19-035d, [21] Hunter became known as baseball's "first big-money free agent".[2]. One last time, Hunter was freed up in a different way. The youngest son of eight children, Hunter was born and raised in Hertford in northeast North Carolina. Hunter's contract with the A's was straightforward. The Yankees, meanwhile, were revitalized by their new addition. Joked Burke, Well, we wont have to worry about that, will we? 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. CREATIVE. He was credited by Steinbrenner as the cornerstone of the Yankees in their return to championship form. 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. At first the Owner didnt respond. Tenace spent the ensuing days humming If I Were a Rich Man around the clubhouse. Audio Record for Costas Coast to Coast Radio Program: 1987 Hall of Fame Induction Day recording P_BL-2020-00146-005.mp3 I love this place, said Catfishs old pitching coach in Oakland, Bill Posedale, in town representing his new employer, the San Diego Padres. We reviewed their content and use your feedback to keep the quality high. Hunter listened, and never spent a day in the minors. May 13, 1965 Tasked to make sense of it was a three-person panel. On Wednesday, May 8, against the Minnesota Twins, Hunter pitched the ninth perfect game in baseball history. Jim "Catfish" Hunter, the Hall of Fame pitcher who ushered in baseball's era of big bucks for free agents, died today at age 53 after battling the disease named after another New York Yankees. (a) Using an annual effective interest rate of 6% (a rate that figures in a six-year personal loan of $120,000 that Oakland's owner Charlie Finley had made to Hunter in 1969 and then promptly recalled), find the value of the specified payments to the insurance company at the scheduled time of the last payment. 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. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. He was a man of honor. Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. That kind of financial outlay required the Yankees to squeeze every penny they could from the contract, and for tax purposes it made sense to put the deal on their 1974 books. Hunter and his team entertained between three and five clubs a day, 48 executives in all by the time things wrapped up. Catfish Hunter was a Pitcher. 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. Although his contemporaries were earning much moreTom Seaver made $173,000 in 1974, and Steve Carlton $165,000Catfish had no way of knowing that. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. (Hunter wished to have such an annuity in lieu of immediate salary for tax reasons. Catfish Hunter and his wife, Helen, live in the same house in the tiny town of Hertford, N.C., that they lived in 20 years ago. Video Film Room Hub Statcast MLB Network MLB Originals Podcasts. Finley agreed. 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. Amid the fervor for the pitchers services, he was supplicating himselfor coming as close to it as he knew how. This was the highest ever at the time which also earned him immense fame. It didnt take long for the $1 million predictions to be blown from the water. He found Hunter chock-full of questions. Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." us, Died: The race was on. At Hunters salary$21,500 in 1969, $33,200 in 70it was a stretch, but worth it. By the end of the 1974 season, Jim "Catfish" Hunter was the ace on baseball's best team. The document would come to be known around Yankees HQ as the Catfish Hunter Manifesto.. Second, so what if you're in the orchestra? Finley attempted to have the arbitration ruling overturned,[17] but was unsuccessful after several appeals. Hunter was afraid his career might be over in the summer of 1978, because of shoulder problems. [24] He left the game with a bruised foot and was eventually placed on the 21-day disabled list with the injury, not pitching again until May5. When Kluttz called his wife, Wayne, from the airport to tell her that he and Paul were homeward bound, she surprised him with instructions to stay put. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Lets get this out of the way, he told the pitcher. 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. By the end of the 1974 season, Jim Catfish Hunter was the ace on baseballs best team. (Hunter died on September 9, 1999, so he would not have received a January 1, 2000 annuity payment.). His older brothers taught him to pitch,[2] and his pitching skill began to attract scouts from MLB teams to Hertford. 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. Catfish Hunter joined the Yankees in 1975 after a contract breach made him a free agent following 10 seasons with the Athletics, including three as a teammate with Dave Hamilton (right). "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. According to Paul, the Yankees signed Hunter last night rather than wait until 1975 on the advice of Greenwald, their tax lawyer. 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. 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 time they reached New York it was 10 pages long and barely legible, owing to a bumpy trip. Just walking into Yankee Stadium chills, run through you. The signing, announced at a New Year's Eve news conference, took place at the Yankee offices in the Parks Administration Building in Flushing, Queens, where intricate negotiations wound up after Hunter and his lawyers flew here from North Carolina earlier in the day. He paid immediate dividends with the Yankees, winning 23 games in the first year of his new contract, and then contributed to three straight pennant-winning seasons, 1976-1978. The tournament has raised over $200,000 since 1999. One thing Paul had working in his favor, however, was Yankees director of minor league scouting Clyde Kluttz. On the way I did a rough draft of the contract and he signed the draft three hours later. Catfish Hunter's 1974 baseball contract with the Oakland Athletics called for half of his $100,000 salary to be paid to a life insurance company of his choice for the purchase of a deferred annuity. Amanda responds by asking, "Who's he?" Copyright 2017 by Jason Turbow. Phone: 602.496.1460 [36] Hunter is interred at Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford, adjacent to the field where he played high school baseball. 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. Notably absent from the proceedings was George Steinbrenner, the Yankee general partner who is forbidden from participating in Yankee affairs under terms of his twoyear suspension from baseball following his conviction for illegal political contributions. Explore the map and charts for more successful Flathead catfish fishing. How many seasons did Catfish Hunter play? We present them here for purely educational purposes. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. This was the pitcher who was the object of the affections and treasuries of teams that sent a constant stream of representatives to the tiny town of Hertford where Hunter has lived all of his life and the tiny town of Ahoskie where the law firm of Cherry, Cherry and Flythe has its offices. An arbitration hearing took place on Nov. 26 in New York. The catfish fish (under the chicken) was fried to perfection and seasoned well. 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. You talk to him once more. So Kluttz did exactly that. In the midst of the mayhem, the phone rang. [2][29] Hunter won 63 games in his five seasons with the Yankees. The Jim "Catfish" Hunter Memorial is located in Hertford. Catfish Hunter was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1987. "We don't belong to anybody", he told his wife.[2]. Born: 8-Apr-1946 Birthplace: Hertford, NC Died: 9-Sep-1999 Location of . Pay the insurance like the contract read.. 46 Years Ago. [2][30], While with the Yankees, Hunter was a resident of Norwood, New Jersey, preferring to live outside of New York City. He also won four times without losing in the World Series. (Doug McWilliams/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Finley argued that he believed the deal to involve deferred money, paid after the pitchers career endednot a sum due right away. Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. He had just completed a stellar season, capturing the Cy Young Award after leading the American League in wins (25) and earned run average (2.49) and powering the Oakland Athletics to their third consecutive World Series title. [31], He returned to his farm in Hertford where he grew soybeans, corn, peanuts, and cotton, and was a spokesman for diabetes awareness. [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]. I believe there were higher offers, Hunter said after signing his contract, but no matter how much money was offered, if you want to be a Yankee, you dont think about it.. Did your lawyer, Mr. Cherry, give Finley official notice of the contract breach?, Did the 10-day period [as stipulated in the contract] pass after Finley received the letter?. 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. They were talking about nearly $3.5 million over five years, and Paul needed help. In that instance, Finley was successful in foiling the Yankee effort. After a bidding war that included nearly every MLB team, the Yankees and Catfish Hunter ink a five-year/$3.75 million contract. Regal. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. 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. There was no indication what it was about. [41] An annual softball event is held in Hertford in memory of Hunter. 30 Facts About Catfish Hunter | FactSnippet. In the movie Grumpier Old Men, an enormous and highly prized fish is named "Catfish Hunter" by the locals. Union leader Marvin Miller, meanwhile, sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, seeking official recognition of Hunters free agency. In September, the pitcher turned to Washington attorney and agent Jerry Kapstein for help, and reported the pertinent details. The courts agreed, refusing Finleys plea at two levels of the judiciary. After the designated hitter was adopted by the . I dont know much about this, Jerry. Hunter, a major leaguer for 10 years, tied for the most victories, in the majors last season with 25. That was drastic. 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. Catfish Hunter was born on April 8, 1946. [18][19][20] Further details of Finley's history with Hunter gave the A's owner added negative publicity. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 How much did Catfish Hunter weigh when playing? I bought the sports jacket I'm wearing now and left by jet at about 2 o'clock. Hunter played linebacker and offensive tackle in football as well as shortstop, cleanup batter, and pitcher in baseball. If he hadnt agreed to the arrangement, after all, it could hardly be valid. 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. Hunter retired at age 33 following the 1979 season, after developing persistent arm problems, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1976, Hunter won 17 games, led the Yankees in complete games and innings pitched, and was again named to the All-Star team. We suppose that the first eleven of these were to be for $4,166.67, and the final payment was to be for four cents less. For this reason, he declined to choose a team; accordingly, his plaque depicts him with no logo on his cap. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. In 1966 and 1967, he was named to the American League All-Star team. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. For the duration of the flight, Greenwald, yellow legal pad in hand, drafted an addendum to the standard players contract, conferring with Hunters team every step of the way. That last detail, it turned out, would prove to be instrumental in the years to come. Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." Can I live in New York City? This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Hadnt the Owner been the one to personally scout him in the backwoods of Hertford, N.C.? Seitz took 20 days to announce his decision, and when he did it was groundbreaking. But a free agent of Hunter's experience and status was unheard of. After Finley refused to make payment on the annuity after discovering he had to pay $25,000 in taxes which was due immediately, the breach of contract dispute was brought before an arbitration hearing on November 26, 1974. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. . American, Southern, Vegetarian options $$$$ Finley gave Hunter the nickname "Catfish" in 1965 because he thought his 19-year-old pitcher needed a flashy nickname. Hunters case was brought before arbitrator Peter Seitz in December, and Finley claimed to be confused by the terms of Hunters contract. 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. 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. Hunter would lead them to three consecutive pennants and back-to-back World Series titles in 1977-78, restoring the Bronx Bombers to the top of the baseball world. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Ordinarily, Paul could go directly to owner George Steinbrenner for approval, but the Boss had been suspended by Bowie Kuhn for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and was temporarily banned from contact. The New York Yankees signed Hunter to a five-year, $3,750,000 contract.) Posed action on the mound of James "Catfish" Hunter of the New York Yankees, 1976. So Yankees team president Gabe Paul was the point man in the negotiations. But the document in question was the only contract Hunter had. So the Yankees beat out the Pirates, Dodgers, Padres, Royals, Expos and Cleveland for Hunters services. 1) We are making 4166.67 for 12 installments bimonthly and our investment is growing @6%. 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. Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1987. The display swayed MacPhail, who later said, The Oakland club offered everything to which [Hunter] is entitled. Hunter continued to win games, and in 1974 received both The Sporting News's "Pitcher of the Year" award and the American League Cy Young Award after going 2512 with a league-leading 2.49 earned run average. On Oct. 10, two days before the World Series was to start, Jerome Holtzman wrote a story about Hunters contract in the Chicago Sun-Times, based on a report he received from one of Hunters confidantsformer teammate Mike Hershbergerwhich included this bombshell: the best pitcher on the best team in the league was attempting to jump ship. Charlie said, Here's the money, Hunter recalled. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. 1968 May 08. Cherry spent the summers middle months peppering Finley with letters seeking fulfillment. When Hunter approached him with a solution to both their problemsa long-term contract at $200,000 per season, with a $200,000 bonusFinley rejected him outright and did not counter. Blue plastic ballpoint pen and cap. Catfish Hunter of the New York Yankees warms-up during spring training in March, 1975 in . I thought it might be too drastic for an arbitrator.. Hunter was effectively pitching for half the money for which he signed. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Not only had the period passed, Hunter said, but Finley never even bothered to respond. 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. Early speculation said that it might take as much as $1 million to lock him up. Find Catfish Hunter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Rookie Status: . He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. Blue plastic ballpoint pen and cap. Hed always wanted to earn six figures, and when Finley made the offer it seemed just fine. Hertford and Ahoskie had never seen anything like it and now the Yankees hope Hunter will help them see the things they always used to seepennants. Prior to the 1968 season, Finley moved the A's from Kansas City to Oakland. 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. From that point on, every deal Hunter made with Finley was extensively documented, with signatures from each party in all the appropriate places. Mr. During his senior year in November 1963, Hunter's right foot was wounded by a brother in a hunting accident; helost one of his toes and shotgun pellets lodged in his foot. Without its ace, Finleys As would fall to last place by 1977. Andruw Jones Hall of Fame Classic Home Run Derby Autographed bat, Bob Feller Signing Contract with Hank Greenberg photograph, Babe Ruth and Jacob Ruppert at Contract Signing photograph, Philadelphia Phillies versus San Diego Padres scorecard, Chicago Cubs versus New York Yankees scorecard. 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.