"Catfish overcame early-season arm woes to help pitch the Yankees to the pennant and World Championship and won the final game of the World Series. The first of the free agents, Catfish brought a touch of class to the Yankees. He plans to retire at the end of the season. 'That's it. Nothing can make me change my mind.'
He was frustrated by injuries the past two years and thought his career was over in when he couldn't throw in '78. Catfish underwent special treatment and became a 12-game winner when the Yankees needed him most. He was instrumental in their drive to catch the Red Sox.
Born in Hertford, North Carolina, he's still the same quiet, unassuming farm boy he was when he began his career. Catfish was only the fourth pitcher in history (Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson) to win 200 games before his 31st birthday."
-Phil Pepe and Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1979 Edition
"Fourteen seasons, eight All-Star Games, seven playoffs and six World Series took a toll on Catfish Hunter's shoulder last season. But he made a remarkable comeback (finishing second to Mike Caldwell for Comeback Player of the Year) and, following the All-Star Game, posted a 10-3 mark, including six straight wins in the August heat.
Accomplishments of the greater variety are also part of the Comeback Cat's bag of tricks. He is one of only four 20th century pitchers to reach 200 wins before age 31 with the others being Cy Young, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson. In 1968, Jimmy hurled the only regular-season perfect game in the A.L. ... in the last 57 years! In 1975, he joined Johnson and Grove as the only American Leaguers to win 20 games in five straight seasons. And all this comes without a day in the minor leagues ... imagine that!
Looking ahead to 1979, Yankee fans will bid a fond farewell to the Cat as he finishes his baseball career. At that time, one of baseball's premier pitchers and classiest gentlemen will hang up his pinstripes and baseball will be less one of its greater resources. Thanks for everything, Jim."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"It was the Year of the Comeback for Catfish Hunter. Following an off year in 1977, Catfish came back in 1978 to win 12 of 18 decisions, including a 6-0 mark in the month of August when the Yankees really began to turn it on. Cat finished 1978 winning nine of his last 11 decisions. In his 6-0 August he had a 1.64 ERA. Over his last 12 regular-season starts, he was 9-2 with a 2.23 ERA, lowering his season ERA from 6.51 to 3.58.
Jim was on the disabled list twice in 1978, with soreness in his right shoulder. He had the shoulder manipulated by Dr. Maurice Cowen on June 26. He returned from the D.L. on July 17 and was 10-3 from that point on. Jim finished second to Mike Caldwell for the AL's Comeback Player of the Year.
Cat was the American League's Player of the Week, July 31 to August 6, giving up no runs in two games against the Rangers and Orioles. He was the winning pitcher in the World Series clinching game against the Dodgers.
There is little doubt that Catfish is one of the premier pitchers in American League history. In 1976 Cat 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. In 1975 he joined Johnson and Lefty Grove as the only American Leaguers to win 20 games in five straight seasons. An eight-time All-Star, Jim is now in his 15th season and has been a regular starting pitcher since he was 19 years old. Cat won the 1974 Cy Young Award and was runner-up in 1975; that year, his first as a Yankee, he pitched more complete games (including 10 straight) than any American Leaguer since Bob Feller in 1946, and pitched more innings than any Yankee since Carl Mays in 1921. Jim has pitched 42 career shutouts, fourth among active American League pitchers.
Catfish signed as a free agent in a celebrated talent chase culminating on New Year's Eve 1974, making him a household word in America. An arbitration panel had declared him a free agent after the 1974 World Series over a breach of contract.
Jim was the youngest of eight children and was a great athlete at Perquimans High School, making All-State in baseball, football and track. He also played Little League and Babe Ruth ball in his native Hertford, American Legion ball in nearby Ahoskie, and semi-pro ball in Wanchese. Jim rooted for the Indians as a youngster, with Jimmy Piersall his favorite player.
His four brothers helped his development as a player, but one of them accidentally shot him while hunting in the foot 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 and signed him, although Jim was unable to play in 1964; hence, he's never played 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 57 years.
He helped Oakland to four division championships and three World Championships. Jim's first real injury was a broken thumb suffered in the 1973 All-Star Game when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Billy Williams. He still won 21 games that year.
Jim is an outstanding fielder, and as a hitter he's 149-658 (.227) with six homers and 51 RBIs. His longest winning streak as a Yankee was the six straight he won last August; his longest win streak ever was 13 in 1973. 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 August 27, 1976 at California (no runs, 11 hits).
Cat has five World Series wins, and only seven others have more. His 12 World Series appearances tie him for seventh. He holds the ALCS mark for most starts (9) and is tied for most wins (4).
Jim has a 110-acre farm that his brother runs during the baseball season. 1979 is the final year of his five-year contract."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
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