Catfish Hunter Biography

James Augustus Hunter, known as Catfish Hunter, was an American professional baseball player in Major League Baseball. He played as a pitcher for the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics and later for the New York Yankees from 1965 to 1979. Hunter achieved 200 career wins by the age of 31, a feat not matched by any pitcher since 1915. He retired after the 1979 season due to ongoing arm issues and was later honored with induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. Hunter signed with the Athletics on June 8, 1964, for a reported sum of $75,000, though he did not play during the 1964 regular season. In 1974, he earned The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award and the American League Cy Young Award after posting a 25–12 record with a 2.49 earned run average. He recorded 17 wins in 1976, led the Yankees in complete games and innings pitched, and was selected for the All-Star team that year.