Dont sign nothing else, Kluttz advised. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. 1974 December 31. 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. 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. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hunter was by that time among baseball's best. On New Year's Eve, it shouldn't matter if. But the document in question was the only contract Hunter had. Find Catfish Hunter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Just a year ago, the Yankees went through a devastating experience with another former Finley employe. Twenty-two of the remaining 23 teams all but the San Francisco Giants entered the sweepstakes for baseballs best big game pitcher. 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. Seitz took 20 days to announce his decision, and when he did it was groundbreaking. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Dec. 31, 1974: Catfish. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Finley remained bewildered, at least publicly. . Finley gave Hunter the nickname "Catfish" in 1965 because he thought his 19-year-old pitcher needed a flashy nickname. He exemplified class and dignity and he taught us how to win. Dec. 31, 1974: Catfish Hunter, five . There were two flaws to this argument. 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. 1) We are making 4166.67 for 12 installments bimonthly and our investment is growing @6%. 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. Posed action on the mound of James "Catfish" Hunter of the New York Yankees, 1976. [3] The game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning; at the plate, Hunter got three hits and drove in three of Oakland's four runs with a squeeze bunt in the seventh and a bases-loaded single in the eighth.[6]. Finley attempted to have the arbitration ruling overturned,[17] but was unsuccessful after several appeals. Kapstein heard about it just in time to hightail over to Dodger Stadium for Fridays workout. Just walking into Yankee Stadium chills, run through you. The other was that the Owner did not actually sign the document. Finley argued that he believed the deal to involve deferred money, paid after the pitchers career endednot a sum due right away. Born: 8-Apr-1946 Birthplace: Hertford, NC Died: 9-Sep-1999 Location of . This, plus the acquisition of Bobby Bonds from San Francisco gives the team two of the biggest deals in its history. Catfish Hunter Perfect Game cap. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He sided with Hunter completely. A souvenir Yankees cap was propped atop Hunters head, and out he went, smiling, to face the crowd. Pen has two white stripes running down the length of the pen, one on each side. (Hunter died on September 9, 1999, so he would not have received a January 1, 2000 annuity payment.). Hunters case was brought before arbitrator Peter Seitz in December, and Finley claimed to be confused by the terms of Hunters contract. 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. I love this place, said Catfishs old pitching coach in Oakland, Bill Posedale, in town representing his new employer, the San Diego Padres. Phone: 602.496.1460 Amanda responds by asking, "Who's he?" in Hertford, NC It would have priced the pitchers services at below half his current value, never mind inflation. He was tired of the hour-long drive into Ahoskie, not to mention that the baseball season ended two months earlier and he hadnt so much as dusted off his hunting rifle. This is a 12-month CONTRACT position with a possible extension . Hunter signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $3.25 million contract. 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. 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. Hegrew up on a farm and excelled in a variety of sports at Perquimans County High School. The difference with Hunters stipulation was that the Owner wouldnt have the money at allthe annuity would. [16] New York was closer to his home in North Carolina and the team played on natural grass. Ultimately, though, New Yorks offer wasnt close enough to merit serious consideration. 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. 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. 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.. 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. Cedarwood Cemetery, Hertford, NC, High School: Perquimans HS (Perquimans, NC), Debut: Furthermore, he was joining an organization that was hungry to regain its former glory. The total value of the pact sets a record for baseball. So the Yankees beat out the Pirates, Dodgers, Padres, Royals, Expos and Cleveland for Hunters services. He asked Finley for a leave of absence between starts to pull something together, but his request was denied. Hunter was effectively pitching for half the money for which he signed. Object number: B-1968-0141. 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. "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. A decade later it was Kluttz, still tight with the pitcher, who suggested Hunters $200,000-per-year compromise offer to Finley. Once that buffer expired, however. 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. I cannot believe that Catfish would do this to me, he said. Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of images. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Union leader Marvin Miller, meanwhile, sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, seeking official recognition of Hunters free agency. It's 10 pages long in my handwriting and I'm the only one who can read my writing., As Hunter sat calmly behind a desk in a blue longsleeved sport shirt, blue and black checked slacks and a blue Yankee cap, Paul, his new boss, explained that as late as 8 o'clock there were some areas [in the agreement] that could've killed the whole thing.. 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. Day trip or a week-long adventure. That left them about 12 hours to finalize things. In addition to the money, Hunter got the bonuses he was looking for including guaranteed insurance payments and annuities for college tuition for his two children. That last detail, it turned out, would prove to be instrumental in the years to come. Shortly after 7:00 p.m. Paul had a staffer schedule a news conference for 8:15. [2], Hunter died at his home in Hertford in 1999 at age 53, a year after his ALS diagnosis. Before seeing Cherry, however, he stopped at the Tomahawk Motel to meet Kluttz for a cup of coffee. He lost 12 games and had a 2,49 earnedrun average. 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. The total. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. (Doug McWilliams/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Do you have a blog? What position did Catfish Hunter play? Jim "Catfish" Hunter helped the Yankees to three American League pennants and two World Series titles after leaving the Athletics following the 1974 season. 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. 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. (1968-74). I hung up the phone, turned to my wife and said, We don't belong to anybody. I was scared. 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 deal makes him the highest paid player in baseball . The most recent challenge to the reserve clause, made by St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood, had been denied by the U.S. Supreme Court two years before. As for the New York Mets, Flythe said: I informed Mr. Grant [M. Donald, the Mets board chairman] yesterday that his proposal was pretty far down the line and I wouldn't be calling him again unless he wanted to increase the offer.. On a personal level, Finley could not understand Hunters ingratitude. After the designated hitter was adopted by the . It was 47 years ago, New Years Eve of 1974, that baseball changed forever. Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. and then it was done. After a bidding war that included nearly every MLB team, the Yankees and Catfish Hunter ink a five-year/$3.75 million contract. inHertford,NC, Buried: I believe there was a higher offer, but no matter how much money offered, if you want to be a Yankee, you dont think about it.. 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. Never complained or made excuses - just an under-rated big time pitcher. Yankees Sign Up Catfish Hunter In Estimated $3.75Million Deal, https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/01/archives/yankees-sign-up-catfish-hunter-in-estimated-375million-deal-hunter.html. Not only had the period passed, Hunter said, but Finley never even bothered to respond. Explore the map and charts for more successful Flathead catfish fishing. 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. I dont know much about this, Jerry. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. 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. After Hunter's death, former teammate Reggie Jackson described Hunter as a "fabulous human being. Some owners even flew to Hunters country home in North Carolina to woo the star right-hander. 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. 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. If it was not valid, that meant Catfish had been pitching contract-free, which would make him a free agent. 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. A contract to play for the As in 1975, he said, would be arriving shortly. [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. One thing Paul had working in his favor, however, was Yankees director of minor league scouting Clyde Kluttz. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. Closed now. A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. (Hunter wished to have such an annuity in lieu of immediate salary for tax reasons. In 1966 and 1967, he was named to the American League All-Star team. Hunter has been the subject of numerous popular culture references, including the Bob Dylan song "Catfish". from the SABR BioProject, More Catfish Hunter Pages at Baseball Reference. Kluttz talked about the rabid fan base and increased opportunities in the countrys largest media market. The benefit to Finley was that he got to hold on to the money in the interim, earning interest on it all the while. 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. This time they're confident Finley won't beat them, but, Paul added, The courts take precedence over everything. When Hunter asked, however, what would happen to the contract after he died, Kansas City GM Joe Burke told him that his demise would be the termination point. It put the executive in a tight spot. [22] He also became only the fourth (and last) American League pitcher to win 20 games in a season for five consecutive seasons (19711975). 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. Hunter tried to arrange alternative financing through multiple banks in North Carolina, but without showing up in person it couldnt be done. I didn't realize the implications.. [35] He was unconscious for several days after the fall, but he had returned home from that hospitalization when he died. 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 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. . [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. Do you think Im a free agent?, Jim, let me ask you this, said Kapstein. 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. Object numberB-1975-0563 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. Blue plastic ballpoint pen and cap. 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? Hunters team claimed that Finley knew everything about the annuity arrangement from the beginning and willingly defaulted. 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. In his first season in New York, Hunter led the American League with 23 wins and 328 innings pitched. 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?. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Ahoskie, N.C., population 5,500, was the big city close to Hunters home in Hertford, about an hours drive to the northwest. Select from premium Catfish Hunter of the highest quality. In 2019, MLB's revenues were $10.7 billion, the average player's salary $4.43 million. He had a heck of a sense of humor. [32][33][34] Hunter noticed arm weakness while hunting in the winter of 19971998. Bio/Historical Note 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. Hollowell was best friends with the young Jim Hunter while they grew up together. [2][9][10] Hunter recalled being scared after he was declared a free agent. Finley, however, was late in delivering the insurance payments, creating strife between owner and pitcher. Charlie said, Here's the money, Hunter recalled. He also won four times without losing in the World Series. Pay the insurance like the contract read.. May 13, 1965 Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of images. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. It started with Catfish making $640,000 a year for five years. When Finley rebuffed, Marvin Miller, head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, seized the opportunity. Finley agreed. Can I live in New York City? If he wasnt the Hunter of old, he was close enough. Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. Catfish Hunter signs free agent contract with New York Yankees, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. He even suggested mediating the dispute himself, which Miller countered with a clause in the Basic Agreement mandating an impartial arbitrator for contract disputes between players and owners. 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. . The youngest son of eight children, Hunter was born and raised in Hertford in northeast North Carolina. All rights reserved. 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. After a contract violation on an annuity by Finley in 1974, Catfish Hunter won arbitration in December and he was allowed to leave the Athletics as a free agent. Thats more money than we wanted to pay, he exuded, but well do it., There was only one catch. Be sure no one else knows, he warned. The Owner went out of his way to invest money for Catfish, generating an after-tax profit of $15,000 in 1972 alone. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. Hunter is mentioned in the 1976 film The Bad News Bears. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Catfish Hunter Contract pen. You talk to him once more. So Kluttz did exactly that. Mr. As the room began to fill, the two sides were still finalizing details. View Catfish Hunter's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). 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. 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. well, they were breaking new ground. [3] The song was later released by Dylan, Joe Cocker and Kinky Friedman. 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. They both knew it was folly. How many seasons did Catfish Hunter play? He was a man of honor. As a fellow North Carolinian, hed endeared himself to the Hunter family, earning extra points shortly after Hunter first signed when Finley tried to backtrack and get the teenager to agree to a second contractdated 1965 instead of 1964that would have allowed him to be sent to the minors without penalty owing to the expiration of the bonus baby rule. Hunter went 0-4 in his seven starts that month. 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. Catfish Hunter had 2,012 strikeouts over his career. While playing for the Yankees, Catfish Huntercontinued to perform well. 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. Hunter's contract with the A's was straightforward. [36] Hunter is interred at Cedarwood Cemetery in Hertford, adjacent to the field where he played high school baseball. He was credited by Steinbrenner as the cornerstone of the Yankees in their return to championship form. In that moment, Hunter -- one of the great pitchers of his time -- became baseballs first free agent. Finley.[5]. 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. 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. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store / Restaurant #221 of 1276 places to eat in Lansing. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 1:04PM. This was standard language found in every uniform player contract, placed there 40 years earlier by the owners themselves to provide a reasonable buffer against default claims. One last time, Hunter was freed up in a different way. During his first season with the team, hewent home with 23wins. Hunter played linebacker and offensive tackle in football as well as shortstop, cleanup batter, and pitcher in baseball. In 2004, the Oakland Athletics began the Catfish Hunter Award. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. Put it into a life insurance annuity, he said, which could be cashed in for additional income once Hunters baseball career ended. The Rangers discussed a generous straight salary, plus a farm annuity, plus $30,000 a year for 15 years. 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. [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. 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. The New York Yankees signed Hunter to a five-year, $3,750,000 contract.) 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. Following the 1979 season and the end of his five-year contract, Hunter retired from baseball at age 33. (12 x $4,166.67 = $50,000.04. On the morning of the last day of the year Hunter drove to Ahoskie prepared to finalize a deal. 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. Ring out the old. Hunter claimed Finley had breached his contract by failing to pay him $50,000 - half of Hunter's salary - into a long-term annuity fund. ", 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".
