[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. Finley gave Hunter the nickname "Catfish" in 1965 because he thought his 19-year-old pitcher needed a flashy nickname. I didn't realize the implications.. Hunter was the last major league pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season. Tuesday and Wednesday in office Clover Consulting has a large client in Lansing, MI that is seeking an experienced Project Manager. Hunter's five-year contract with the Yankees wasvalued at $3.35 million. In 1966 and 1967, he was named to the American League All-Star team. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Bowie Kuhn said it was like giving a life sentence to a pickpocket, and imposed a moratorium on other teams negotiating with Hunter. Find out more. 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. Rookie Status: 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. Collections; . On February 11, 1974, Hunter agreed with the A's on a two-year, $200,000 contract with a clause stipulating that $50,000 payments be made to a life insurance annuity of his choosing in each of the two seasons. News. There was no indication what it was about. 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. Once that buffer expired, however. 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. And the map shows spots in Michigan, where fishermen caught Flathead catfish. Cherry spent the summers middle months peppering Finley with letters seeking fulfillment. 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. How about my wife? asked Catfish. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Pay the insurance like the contract read.. He recovered in La Porte, Indiana, at the farm of Athletics owner Charles O. Hunter signed with the Yankees for $3.75 million over five years, proving that a market for veteran free . When we started winning in Oakland, Cat was the father of those teams, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said. }, Cronkite School at ASU That left them about 12 hours to finalize things. Finley agreed. 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. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Phone: 602.496.1460 Jackson wanted New York and the stage of Yankee Stadium, the same as Hunter did before him. . . [35] He was unconscious for several days after the fall, but he had returned home from that hospitalization when he died. 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. Before seeing Cherry, however, he stopped at the Tomahawk Motel to meet Kluttz for a cup of coffee. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. In 1975, pitchers Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith played without contracts. Kapstein heard about it just in time to hightail over to Dodger Stadium for Fridays workout. 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. Thats more money than we wanted to pay, he exuded, but well do it., There was only one catch. The following is excerpted fromDynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finleys Swingin As. To be a Yankee is a thought in everyones head and mine, Hunter said. 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. The others were Walter Johnson (10), Lefty Grove (7), and Bob Feller (5). 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. but the Kansas City Athletics signed Catfish Hunter to a contract. 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. [2][29] Hunter won 63 games in his five seasons with the Yankees. 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. 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.) In January 1970 Oakland As owner Charlie Finley loaned 23-year-old pitcher Jim Catfish Hunter $150,000 to buy a 485-acre farm adjacent to his existing property in North Carolina. background-color:#ba3434; Video Film Room Hub Statcast MLB Network MLB Originals Podcasts. us, Died: Not long afterward, with Steinbrenner back in control of the Yankees and starting to throw money around, he signed Catfish Hunters old As teammate, Reggie Jackson, to a five-year contract with a total value of $3.5 million. On September 5, 2018, Hunter was inducted into the Oakland Athletics first Hall of Fame class, with wife, Helen, there to receive the honor. 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. Audio Record for Costas Coast to Coast Radio Program: 1987 Hall of Fame Induction Day recording P_BL-2020-00146-005.mp3 A souvenir Yankees cap was propped atop Hunters head, and out he went, smiling, to face the crowd. 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 . Finley attempted to have the arbitration ruling overturned,[17] but was unsuccessful after several appeals. Many thanks to him. 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. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. After the designated hitter was adopted by the American League in 1973, Hunter had only two plate appearances in his final seven seasons, with one base hit in 1973. Dec. 31, 1974: Catfish Hunter, five . The benefit to Finley was that he got to hold on to the money in the interim, earning interest on it all the while. I tried not to think the worst of him, but it was impossible.. 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. But a free agent of Hunter's experience and status was unheard of. I thought it might be too drastic for an arbitrator.. Ring out the old. 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. Shortly after 7:00 p.m. Paul had a staffer schedule a news conference for 8:15. I asked [Finley] once why he only called me on the days I was due to pitch, but he said he didnt know when I was going to pitch, Hunter recalled. How . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Find the amount of the annual salary payments. The pact was consummated with a handshake, no contract necessary. Buttermaker asks, "Who do you think you are, Catfish Hunter?" Finley claimed that he was fulfilling the contract when he offered Hunter a $50,000 check at the end of the season. Couldnt be worse than Finley, Kluttz reasoned, plus hes just as serious about winning. 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. According to Paul, the Yankees signed Hunter last night rather than wait until 1975 on the advice of Greenwald, their tax lawyer. The Owner immediately sought a court order overturning Seitzs ruling. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This was the highest ever at the time which also earned him immense fame. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. . In 2019, MLB's revenues were $10.7 billion, the average player's salary $4.43 million. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. We can't go against the decision of the courts., Informed of Hunter's signing, Finley said from his home in LaPorte, Ind. There were two flaws to this argument. You have breakfast with that boy tomorrow morning, she insisted. 1972-74 Oakland Athletics, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ 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. When Hunter claimed to become a free agent after the season, he had little idea whether it would actually come to pass. What position did Catfish Hunter play? Youll be dead. It was not a good joke, and it continued to sour Hunter even after the Royals added $30,000 per year for the rest of Helen Hunters life as well. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, http://sabr.org/sites/default/files/CatfishHunter.JPG, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, lost Game Four in ten innings by the same score. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Pen has two white stripes running down the length of the pen, one on each side. 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. 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. While at the Yankees he had . 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. Finley was there, as was American League president Lee MacPhail. 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. There was only one caveat, Hunter said. 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. 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 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. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Read more. If he wasnt the Hunter of old, he was close enough. Those three seasons, 1972-74, ended with the A's as World Champions each time. 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. Object number B-1975-0563. [36] Hunter is interred at Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford, adjacent to the field where he played high school baseball. 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. [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. In that moment, Hunter -- one of the great pitchers of his time -- became baseballs first free agent. Second, so what if you're in the orchestra? But on Dec. 31, 1974 the future Hall of Famer traded in his bright yellow As uniform for Yankee pinstripes, after a dispute over a technicality in his contract with As owner Charles O. Finley. [25][26], Arm injuries plagued Hunter beginning in 1978. Catfish Hunter. In September, the pitcher turned to Washington attorney and agent Jerry Kapstein for help, and reported the pertinent details. 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. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. 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. Hunter went 0-4 in his seven starts that month. Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." Hunter grew nervous, began losing sleep. That was a bunch of bull, because Charlie knows everything thats going on in this club. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. 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. View Catfish Hunter's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). (12 x $4,166.67 = $50,000.04. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. He sided with Hunter completely. On New Year's Eve, it shouldn't matter if. "We don't belong to anybody", he told his wife.[2]. 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. The remedy was free agency. Just a year ago, the Yankees went through a devastating experience with another former Finley employe. from the SABR BioProject, More Catfish Hunter Pages at Baseball Reference. Hunter, Jim, 1946-1999. Object number: B-1975-0563. On the way I did a rough draft of the contract and he signed the draft three hours later. On its surface, this seemed like a boon for him. I was in my office for half a day and I was wearing a sweat shirt, related Greenwald, a leading tax attorney. 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.. 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? [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]. The courts agreed, refusing Finleys plea at two levels of the judiciary. After that, teams got creative. The Jim "Catfish" Hunter Memorial is located in Hertford. Just like that, Major League Baseball had its first true free agent. 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. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. It was 47 years ago, New Years Eve of 1974, that baseball changed forever. I told him, I don't want it that way. 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. 1968 May 08. Before long the Owner denied having agreed to anything, claiming he never saw the wording appended by Cherry. You started our success, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner told Hunter upon the pitchers induction to the Hall of Fame in 1987. Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. They drove up to a little landing strip in Suffolk, Va., and we landed in New York at 5:30. By the time they reached New York it was 10 pages long and barely legible, owing to a bumpy trip. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. 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. . 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. Do you have a sports website? All rights reserved. Seitz was a perceptive, acute man. 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. 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. In his first season in New York, Hunter led the American League with 23 wins and 328 innings pitched. ", List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, "Catfish Hunter, Who Pitched in 6 World Series for A's and Yankees, Dies at 53", "Catfish Hunter Winter Leagues Statistics & History". I dont know much about this, Jerry. 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.