1975 Profile: Jim Hunter

1975 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Catfish. The Cy Young Award winner for 1974, finally receiving the recognition he deserves, Jim has won 88 games over the last four years.
'No better pitcher anywhere than that man,' Reggie Jackson says. A remarkable competitor, he owns a 4-0 record in World Series competition. He's not overpowering but he's a craftsman on the mound.
'There's nothing mysterious about him,' says Oriole manager Earl Weaver. 'He's got his pitches and he just throws them over the plate and keeps challenges the hitters.'
Born in Hertford, North Carolina, Jim lost a toe in a teenage hunting accident but was signed to a $75,000 bonus anyway by Charles O. Finley, who perpetrated the nickname. 'Catfish' never spent a day in the minors. He pitched a perfect game against the Twins in 1968."

-Joe Gergen, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1975 Edition

"When one looks over the accomplishments of Jim 'Catfish' Hunter, it's hard to imagine that he only became a household word in America upon signing with the Yankees. But that's one of the advantages of playing in New York, and it's doubtful that there's anyone around who doesn't recall that memorable New Year's Eve when Jim put on a Yankee cap and signed a five-year contract to play for the Yanks.
The 1974 Cy Young Award winner, who is undefeated in World Series competition, who has won 20 games in each of the last four seasons, who has been named to six All-Star teams, who was the ERA and victory leader in the American League last year, and who is now generally acknowledged as the best pitcher in the American League, is happy to be a New Yorker.
'Just walking into Yankee Stadium gave me a thrill,' Jim told reporters at his historic press conference.
The Cat, who beats clubs without striking everyone out, is a master of his art. Although only 29 years old, he pitches with the wisdom of a much older veteran, and dominates any game in which he appears. In 1974 he walked only 46 men in 318 innings.
Hunter lives on a 110-acre farm in Hertford, North Carolina with his wife and two children. He does much of the farm work himself during the winters and enjoys hunting and fishing as well. The Big Apple is happy to have the Catfish in town - and it's going to be a mighty happy association!"

-The New York Yankees Official 1975 Yearbook

"Catfish Hunter became a household name last December when virtually every baseball club jumped at the chance to sign the winner of the 1974 Cy Young Award. The Yankees were his choice and his signing was announced on New Year's Eve.
It brought to New York a man who has won 20 or more in each of the last four seasons for a combined 88-35 record, with a 4-0 World Series mark and a 3-2 ALCS record. The six-time All-Star was also the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year for the American League in 1974 by virtue of his league-leading earned run average and his 25 victories, tying him with Ferguson Jenkins for the league lead.
His Yankee contract will run for five years. Clyde Kluttz originally signed him in 1964 to a large bonus when Clyde was a scout for the Kansas City Athletics. They remained friends as Kluttz joined the Yanks, and Clyde was instrumental in signing him again.
Hunter first achieved national fame at the 1967 All-Star Game in Anaheim, the first ever on prime time TV, when he went five innings in relief, and finally lost on a Tony Perez homer in the 15th. In 1968 he hurled a 4-0 perfect game against Minnesota in only the 12th home game ever played by the Oakland A's; it is the only regular-season perfect game in the A.L. in the last 53 years.
By 1971 Jim had mastered his game as a control artist and led Oakland to four straight division titles, and World Championships in each of the last three years. He finished sixth in the MVP voting in 1974.
The son of a tenant farmer in Hertford, North Carolina, which has been home since he was born, Jim enjoys hunting and fishing, but a hunting accident almost halted his career. A brother accidentally shot him in 1964, causing the loss of his small right toe. The Athletics signed him anyway, after his brilliant baseball and football career at Perquimans High School. Jim never pitched in the minors, as his first year was spent on the disabled list.
Hunter lives today on a 110-acre farm growing peanuts, soybeans, turnips et al, and doing much of the farm work himself. He has been relatively injury-free, save for a broken right thumb suffered in the 1973 All-Star Game when Billy Williams hit him with a line drive. Although he missed a month, he still won 21 games and led the league in winning percentage for the second consecutive year.
Jim was the youngest in a family of eight children."

-1975 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

CATFISH NAMED FATHER OF THE YEAR
"In addition to his many other honors, Catfish Hunter was named Sports Father of the Year for 1975 by the National Father's Day Committee. Former Yankees so honored have included Babe Ruth, Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Bob Turley, Ralph Houk, Tom Tresh, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and Whitey Ford. A luncheon on May 22 at the Americana served as the setting for the official announcement."

-1975 New York Yankees Scorecard & Official Magazine

"Catfish won the Cy Young Award in 1974 with a 25-12 record and a league leading 2.49 ERA.
In 1968 he pitched a perfect game against Minnesota, the only perfect game pitched against an American League club in the last 53 years. Jim has won 88 games in the last four years and he is undefeated in four World Series [decisions] with a 2.19 ERA. He won the 1973 All-Star Game, but had his thumb broken by a Billy Williams line drive."

-1975 All-Star Souvenir Magazine, Milwaukee