from the SABR BioProject, More Catfish Hunter Pages at Baseball Reference. background-color:#ba3434; 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. 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. For the first time since the 1870s, a major league player was free to offer his services to the highest bidder. Supposedly, Finley was upset about having to pay an additional $25,000 in taxes, but that amount of money would soon become . Ahoskie, N.C., population 5,500, was the big city close to Hunters home in Hertford, about an hours drive to the northwest. He found Hunter chock-full of questions. So Yankees team president Gabe Paul was the point man in the negotiations. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. When we started winning in Oakland, Cat was the father of those teams, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. But a free agent of Hunter's experience and status was unheard of. How a contract breach led Catfish Hunter to become baseball's first In spring training, he was diagnosed with diabetes[27][28] and combined with his chronic arm trouble the disease began to sap Hunter's energy. Finley remained bewildered, at least publicly. According to Paul, the Yankees signed Hunter last night rather than wait until 1975 on the advice of Greenwald, their tax lawyer. Even less palatable for Finley was the discovery that about $25,000 in taxes was due immediately, and he would be the one paying them. While football, basketball and hockey have been subjected to costly bidding wars in the last 15 years because of the birth of competing leagues, baseball has never had that problem. Gabe Paul, the Yankee president, refused to disclose monetary terms but it was believed to be a $3.75million package. For this reason, he declined to choose a team; accordingly, his plaque depicts him with no logo on his cap. Kluttz, who visited Hunter along with Paul, was the former As scout who had been vital in steering the pitcher toward the As in the first place. That was drastic. The New York Yankees signed Hunter to a five-year, $3,750,000 contract.) Further suppose that Hunter had drawn a level January 1st salary for twenty years, beginning on January 1, 1980, the first January after his retirement. Hunter was the last major league pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season. The total value of the pact sets a record for baseball. Joked Burke, Well, we wont have to worry about that, will we? Ultimately, though, New Yorks offer wasnt close enough to merit serious consideration. 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. He retired with appearances in six World Series and with five World Series championships. By days end the Red Sox had upped it to $3 million over five. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1987. Anyone can read what you share. [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. 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. Tenace spent the ensuing days humming If I Were a Rich Man around the clubhouse. 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. The land was important to Hunter, who as a local farmer possessed innate understanding of its value. - B-NY76-B (Doug McWilliams / National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), One thing worried me, Miller later reflected. One thing Paul had working in his favor, however, was Yankees director of minor league scouting Clyde Kluttz. A history of the Sports Reference Sponsorship System. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. After further persuasion from Miller, Seitz spelled out a remedy in his ruling: Hunter would become the first free agent in baseballs modern era. If the arbitrator sided with Hunter, the star pitchers contract could be voided. 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. Watch. On the way I did a rough draft of the contract and he signed the draft three hours later. when his unfortunate suspension was invoked, Paul said of Steinbrenner, he told men, any time you have an opportunity to buy the contract of a player for cash, I want you to go ahead whenever, in your judgment, it would be advantageous to the Yankees.. Charlie said, Here's the money, Hunter recalled. Pittsburgh offered $3.75 million for five years, plus, among other perks, limited partnership in five new Wal-Mart stores. 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. Continuing his explanation of why he picked the Yankees, Hunter said, To be a Yankee is a thought in everyone's head and mine. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. Hollowell was best friends with the young Jim Hunter while they grew up together. Ill give you the money, and we can go try to win the World Series. Catfish, heeding Cherrys advice, turned him down. Jim "Catfish" Hunter helped the Yankees to three American League pennants and two World Series titles after leaving the Athletics following the 1974 season. Peter Seitz, who declared Hunter free in a breach-of-contract . How many seasons did Catfish Hunter play? Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. Hunter, a major leaguer for 10 years, tied for the most victories, in the majors last season with 25. Hunter listened, and never spent a day in the minors. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. but the Kansas City Athletics signed Catfish Hunter to a contract. According to the union, Hunter could proclaim himself a free agent as of Sept. 26, but he did not want to distract from Oaklands playoff push. 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. Finley's default on his contractual obligation led to Hunter's historic free agency. To be a Yankee is a thought in everyones head and mine, Hunter said. 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. James Augustus Hunter (April 8, 1946 September 9, 1999), nicknamed "Catfish", was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB). 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. Catfish Hunter was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1987. It put the executive in a tight spot. A souvenir Yankees cap was propped atop Hunters head, and out he went, smiling, to face the crowd. May 13, 1965 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. 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. . Hunter won his Opening Day start in 1977, limiting the Milwaukee Brewers to three hits over seven shutout innings in a 30 victory on April7. (California Angels owner) Gene Autry came down here handing out records of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hunter said. Two weeks after he won his arbitration, Hunter became the highest-paid player in baseball and highest-paid pitcher in history when he signed a five-year contract with the New York Yankees worth $3.35 million. View Catfish Hunter's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). 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. Although Cherry provided specific directions for the annuity depositto be paid to the Jefferson Insurance Company of North Carolina, starting midseasonthe Owner did not put a penny toward it. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 1:04PM. Catfish Hunter Contract pen - Works - eMuseum The Jim "Catfish" Hunter Memorial is located in Hertford. [16] New York was closer to his home in North Carolina and the team played on natural grass. Finley was there, as was American League president Lee MacPhail. I tried not to think the worst of him, but it was impossible.. While Paul and Flythe made travel preparations for New York, Greenwald was already on his way to the airport in Cleveland to charter a plane to North Carolina. [2][30], While with the Yankees, Hunter was a resident of Norwood, New Jersey, preferring to live outside of New York City. 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 irony of Kluttz's presence is that if he had accepted an offer to join the newly created major league scouting bureau late last season, he wouldn't have been available to help the Yankees with Hunter. [37], Along with Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge, Hunter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1987. Kluttz, who never earned more than $10,000 as a major league catcher, is a hunting companion of the pitcher in the offseason in North Carolina where both live. Bitter feelings from that exchange stayed with the pitcher for a long time, and informed his future actions. Dont sign nothing else, Kluttz advised. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Put it into a life insurance annuity, he said, which could be cashed in for additional income once Hunters baseball career ended. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. In You, Me and Dupree, Catfish Hunter is mentioned by Owen Wilson's character, Dupree, convincing an Asian orchestra student that he can pitch: "First, call me Dupree 'cause I'm your teammate. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. How . 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. Such was the Owners myopia that he refused to acknowledge that his actions in recalling the loan undid any goodwill that may have previously been fostered. 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? It was from Finley. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. and then it was done. Catfish Hunter - Wikipedia 071B6200168 between THE STATE OF MICHIGAN and NAME & ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR / VENDOR VENDOR TELEPHONE CLIENT NETWORK SERVICES, INC. (CNSI) (301) 634-4600 702 King Farm Boulevard, 2nd Floor Rockville, MD 20850 Mr. B. Chatterjee, President [chatterjee@cns-inc.com](or) BUYER/CA Dale Reif Mr. Jaytee Kanwal, Chief Financial Officer (or) . . That was a bunch of bull, because Charlie knows everything thats going on in this club. Clyde never lied to me then and he never lied to me now, said Hunter, who has won 88 games in the last four seasons while helping pitch the A's to three consecutive World Series championships. This was the highest ever at the time which also earned him immense fame. . . "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. His attorney back home in North Carolina, J. Carlton Cherry, had advised him to defer some of it. You started our success, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner told Hunter upon the pitchers induction to the Hall of Fame in 1987. [6] Hunter made his professional baseball debut in the Florida Instructional League in 1964 but otherwise never played in the minor leagues. They drove up to a little landing strip in Suffolk, Va., and we landed in New York at 5:30. All rights reserved. By the end of the 1974 season, Jim "Catfish" Hunter was the ace on baseball's best team. Cherry spent the summers middle months peppering Finley with letters seeking fulfillment. vs. CHW 2.0 IP, 0 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. Remembering Yankees great Catfish Hunter, the somewhat-forgotten ALS Catfish Hunter Stats, Fantasy & News. Only a portion of NBHFM's collection is currently online and the information presented here is subject to updates and additions based on research and imaging activities. Union leader Marvin Miller, meanwhile, sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, seeking official recognition of Hunters free agency. Be sure no one else knows, he warned. While playing for the Yankees, Catfish Huntercontinued to perform well. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. The following is excerpted fromDynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finleys Swingin As. Later he offered a bevy of excuses, including that the paperwork was lost. . A decade later it was Kluttz, still tight with the pitcher, who suggested Hunters $200,000-per-year compromise offer to Finley. Pen has two white stripes running down the length of the pen, one on each side. 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.. When the A's failed to hold to a contract-mandated insurance payment, Catfish became the league's first free agent, and joined the New York Yankees for the remainder of his career (1974-9.) The benefit to this arrangement was that instead of being in a high tax bracket in 1974, Hunter would be taxed later on, when he was effectively unemployed and on the hook for a smaller amount. How about my wife? asked Catfish. Find Catfish Hunter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. On September 5, 2018, Hunter was inducted into the Oakland Athletics first Hall of Fame class, with wife, Helen, there to receive the honor. His older brothers taught him to pitch,[2] and his pitching skill began to attract scouts from MLB teams to Hertford. One last time, Hunter was freed up in a different way. (Doug McWilliams/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) I love this place, said Catfishs old pitching coach in Oakland, Bill Posedale, in town representing his new employer, the San Diego Padres. 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. I thought it might be too drastic for an arbitrator.. We need to calculate the future value of this. Rule Changes Probable Pitchers Starting Lineups Transactions Injury Report World Baseball Classic MLB Draft All-Star Game MLB Pipeline Postseason History. 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. 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. 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. Catfish Hunter, Who Pitched in 6 World Series for A's and Yankees, Dies All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Hunter was afraid his career might be over in the summer of 1978, because of shoulder problems. After a bidding war that included nearly every MLB team, the Yankees and Catfish Hunter ink a five-year/$3.75 million contract. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. I didn't have a job. 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. Object numberB-1975-0563 In the movie Grumpier Old Men, an enormous and highly prized fish is named "Catfish Hunter" by the locals. (1968-74). Lets get this out of the way, he told the pitcher. 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. Catfish Hunter Dead At 53 - CBS News (Hunter wished to have such an annuity in lieu of immediate salary for tax reasons. Answer to Solved Given: $160.00 .qi = $1000 find 5221 More pre- 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. Catfish Hunter. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Ring out the old. Matt Kelly was the communications specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. But that is exactly what he did. He won 21 games in each of the previous three seasons while losing only 23, giving him a fouryear record of 88 victories and 35 defeats. Solved Catfish Hunter's 1974 baseball contract with the - Chegg Hunter went 2-9 with a 5.31 ERA in 19 starts in 1979, before retiring at the age of 33. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. 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. This Day in Yankees History: Bombers sign Catfish Hunter - Pinstripe Alley He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. 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. (12 x $4,166.67 = $50,000.04. Amid the fervor for the pitchers services, he was supplicating himselfor coming as close to it as he knew how. 30 Facts About Catfish Hunter | FactSnippet. Join our linker program. And the map shows spots in Michigan, where fishermen caught Flathead catfish. By the end of the 1974 season, Jim Catfish Hunter was the ace on baseballs best team. This time they're confident Finley won't beat them, but, Paul added, The courts take precedence over everything. Upon seeing how poorly his five-year, $1.5 million proposal stacked up, Yankees president Gabe Paul conceded defeat and made the two-and-a-half-hour road trip to Raleigh for his return flight to New York. 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. News. The remedy was free agency. Paul was vibrant when he called Flythe back. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. 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.. [31], He returned to his farm in Hertford where he grew soybeans, corn, peanuts, and cotton, and was a spokesman for diabetes awareness. Ring in the new. Select from premium Catfish Hunter of the highest quality. 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). 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. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. 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. 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. Phone: 602.496.1460 As the room began to fill, the two sides were still finalizing details. "[42] Former teammate Lou Piniella said, "Catfish was a very unique guy. . All rights reserved. Mr. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. Experts are tested by Chegg as specialists in their subject area. On Oct. 4 the MLBPA sent a telegram to Finleys Chicago office, notifying the Owner of his default and informing him that because of the impending playoffs and World Series, the effective date of termination [of Hunters contract] shall be the day following the last game played by the Oakland Athletics in 1974., The ALCS began at the Coliseum the following day. The courts agreed, refusing Finleys plea at two levels of the judiciary. }, Cronkite School at ASU From Catfish Hunter to Gerrit Cole - The history of MLB's - ESPN in Hertford, NC 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. Day trip or a week-long adventure. Hunter grew nervous, began losing sleep. Catfish Hunter - Society for American Baseball Research Catfish was the clear ace, making four more All-Star teams in Oakland while averaging an incredible 38 starts and 281 innings per year, not counting postseason. AKA James Augustus Hunter. MLB.TV Buy MLB.TV Buy At Bat MLB . Hadnt he stuck with him through his hunting accident? 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. Just like that, Major League Baseball had its first true free agent. The race was on. My favorite player of all time. Keep up with headlines and events at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and see who will be taking their place in history next. He recovered in La Porte, Indiana, at the farm of Athletics owner Charles O. 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. That left them about 12 hours to finalize things. He was a man of honor. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. 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. There is no way that New York would have caught Boston during that unforgettable summer, or go on to win its second World Series title in a row, without Hunter pitching the way he did down the stretch. They might not rank with the trade for a Babe Ruth, but they'll do for their present needs. James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter played for championship teams in both Oakland and New York, finding success wherever he went. I told him, I don't want it that way. He had a heck of a sense of humor. The total. Finley claimed that he was fulfilling the contract when he offered Hunter a $50,000 check at the end of the season. In that moment, Hunter -- one of the great pitchers of his time -- became baseball's first free agent. In obtaining Hunter, the Yankees immeasurably improved their chances for winning their first pennant since 1964. More precisely, there were to be semi-monthly contributions in Hunter's name to the Jefferson Insurance Company with the first payment on April 16 and the final payment on September 30. Is Catfish Hunter in the Hall of Fame? Data Provided By What about the five grand he gave him for pitching a perfect game, or the cost of a new Cadillac for winning 21 in 1971? Catfish Hunter left the Athletics via free agency following the 1974 season and signed with the Yankees. Catfish Hunter played for 3 teams; the Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. 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. The display swayed MacPhail, who later said, The Oakland club offered everything to which [Hunter] is entitled. The youngest son of eight children, Hunter was born and raised in Hertford in northeast North Carolina. I was probably the first player who broke it open for other players to be paid what they're worth, Hunter said. Before long the Owner denied having agreed to anything, claiming he never saw the wording appended by Cherry. Shortly after 7:00 p.m. Paul had a staffer schedule a news conference for 8:15. Blue plastic ballpoint pen and cap. 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. Catfish Hunter had 2,012 strikeouts over his career. I bought the whole town of Ahoskie drinks last night, and it only cost me two dollars.. They were talking about nearly $3.5 million over five years, and Paul needed help. If it was not valid, that meant Catfish had been pitching contract-free, which would make him a free agent. April 8, 1946 That was the day that Jim "Catfish" Hunter left the Oakland As after an arbitrator named Peter Seitz ruled that the As had violated Hunters contract by not paying him money he was owed.