"Catfish. The three million dollar man. Jim was born in Hertford, North Carolina and still lives there on his farm. He enjoys fishing, hunting, farming and just walking with his dogs.
'I'm just a country boy,' says Cat, who hasn't let fame and fortune spoil him.
Tendinitis in his right shoulder caused him to have a disappointing year. His 17 wins were his fewest since 1969. Jim still became the fifth active pitcher with 200 career victories, joining Jim Kaat, Gaylord Perry, Mickey Lolich and Ferguson Jenkins, and he's only the fourth pitcher in history to win 200 before his 31st birthday; the others are Cy Young, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson."
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1977 Edition
"Among baseball circles, the accomplishments of Catfish are legendary. When he threw a perfect game in 1968, he was still somewhat of an unknown. Now, as one looks back, it was altogether fitting and proper that he should have achieved such a distinction. For he is close to being the 'perfect' pitcher.
Winner of 40 games in two years as a Yankee, the celebrated Mr. H is in the company of Cy Young, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson as 20th century hurlers with 200 victories prior to age 31. And he stands with Johnson and Lefty Grove as the only American Leaguers to record five consecutive 20-victory seasons. He has been selected for eight All-Star teams, is a Cy Young Award winner, and has pitched in five Championship Series and four World Series. In short, this is one of the premier pitchers in the history of baseball.
Catfish, who never pitched in the minor leagues, is the man who put Hertford, North Carolina on the map."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Catfish Hunter is one of the premier pitchers in American League history. Last season he became only the fourth pitcher in this century to record his 200th victory prior to his 31st birthday, joining Cy Young, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson. The year before, he joined Johnson and Lefty Grove as the only American Leaguers to win 20 games in five straight seasons.
The eight-time All-Star had an 'off' season for Catfish in 1976, but at season's end it was revealed that he was bothered by some arm trouble, not unusual for all the innings he's pitched in recent years.
Jim is now in his 13th season and has been a regular starting pitcher since he was 19 years old. He won the 1974 Cy Young Award and was runner-up in '75. Jim pitched 10 straight complete games in 1975; that year, his first as a Yankee, he pitched more complete games than any American Leaguer since Bob Feller in 1946, and pitched more innings than any Yankee since Carl Mays in 1921. His 40 career shutouts lead all active pitchers in the league.
Catfish signed as a free agent in the celebrated talent chase of 1974 and became a household word in America. These events and the change to the big city left him no less of a fine gentleman than he has always been. Jim has a 110-acre farm, which his brother runs during the baseball season.
Jim was one of eight children, and a great athlete at Perquimans High School, making All-State in baseball and football, and as a member of the 440 relay team. He also played Little League and Babe Ruth League ball in his native Hertford, American Legion ball in nearby Ahoskie, and semi-pro ball in Wanchese. He rooted for the Indians as a youngster, with Jimmy Piersall his favorite player. His brothers helped his development as a player, but one of them accidentally shot him in the foot while hunting in 1964, causing some clubs to lose interest in him. He lost the small toe on his right foot. Kansas City scout Clyde Kluttz stayed with him, however, although he was unable to play in '64; hence, he's never pitched in the minor leagues. A's owner Charlie Finley, feeling the need for a colorful nickname, invented 'Catfish.'
Jim first broke into fame in the 1967 All-Star Game, hurling five innings of sterling relief before Tony Perez beat him with a home run. On May 8, 1968, in only the 12th home game ever played by the Oakland A's, Jim hurled a 4-0 perfect game against Minnesota, the only regular season perfect game in the American League in the last 55 years.
He helped Oakland to four division championships and three World Championships, and has been relatively injury-free, save for a broken thumb in suffered in the 1973 All-Star Game when hit by a line drive off the bat of Billy Williams; he still won 21 games that year. An arbitration panel declared him a free agent after the 1974 World Series over a breach of contract.
Jim is an outstanding fielder and an accomplished hitter, 149-658 (.227) lifetime with six homers and 51 RBIs. In addition to his perfect game, he has a 1-hitter and five 2-hitters, the 1-hitter coming as a Yankee in 1975. His career high in strikeouts is 12 (twice), and his longest outing, 13 innings, was accomplished last August 27 at California (no runs, 11 hits).
Jim signed a five-year starting with the 1975 season."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
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