catfish hunter contract

catfish hunter contract

Catfish was the clear ace, making four more All-Star teams in Oakland while averaging an incredible 38 starts and 281 innings per year, not counting postseason. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. 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. Jimmy, he asked, what would it take for you to come and play for the Yankees? Kluttz had no power to make an offer, but he had a direct line to somebody who did. 46 Years Ago. In that instance, Finley was successful in foiling the Yankee effort. While playing for the Yankees, Catfish Huntercontinued to perform well. [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. 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. Upon seeing how poorly his five-year, $1.5 million proposal stacked up, Yankees president Gabe Paul conceded defeat and made the two-and-a-half-hour road trip to Raleigh for his return flight to New York. (Age 19-035d, All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. }, Cronkite School at ASU Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. The Yankees won three straight pennants with Hunter from 1976 to 1978. It started with Catfish making $640,000 a year for five years. [37], Along with Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge, Hunter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1987. 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. So was Catfish Hunter.". But before Steinbrenner had gone off to serve his suspension, hed said this to Paul: Any time you have the opportunity to get control of a player for cash, go ahead.. Hunter was declared a free agent after Finley failed to make certain payments called for his in contract. The benefit to Finley was that he got to hold on to the money in the interim, earning interest on it all the while. Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. The money Hunter made when he signed that night at the Yankees old offices in the Parks Administration Building (in Flushing, Queens, of all places) seems quaint in comparison to the money modern free agents now make. 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. At first the Owner didnt respond. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Mr. CREATIVE. well, they were breaking new ground. The other was that the Owner did not actually sign the document. The remedy was free agency. Hunters team claimed that Finley knew everything about the annuity arrangement from the beginning and willingly defaulted. Catfish Hunter. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. 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. 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. Desperate to find a suitable arrangement, he even offered up insanity: a 10-year contract at $15,000 per season in lieu of the $150,000 that he owed. There were two flaws to this argument. He led the league in wins (23) for the second year in a row, and also led the league in innings pitched (328) and complete games (30) to finish second to Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Cy Young balloting. Later he offered a bevy of excuses, including that the paperwork was lost. There was only one caveat, Hunter said. In 2019, MLB's revenues were $10.7 billion, the average player's salary $4.43 million. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these, Dynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finleys Swingin As. Amanda responds by asking, "Who's he?" Pittsburgh offered $3.75 million for five years, plus, among other perks, limited partnership in five new Wal-Mart stores. Some owners even flew to Hunters country home in North Carolina to woo the star right-hander. In the last World Series, he said, I had a card in my locker that said, Winning isn't everything, but wanting to is. I always want to win.. 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. Once that buffer expired, however. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. When Hunter claimed to become a free agent after the season, he had little idea whether it would actually come to pass. Ring in the new. Bob Dylan wrote the song "Catfish" in 1975. Hunter was effectively pitching for half the money for which he signed. in Hertford, NC So Yankees team president Gabe Paul was the point man in the negotiations. Anyone can read what you share. Tuesday and Wednesday in office Clover Consulting has a large client in Lansing, MI that is seeking an experienced Project Manager. Early speculation said that it might take as much as $1 million to lock him up. Although Cherry provided specific directions for the annuity depositto be paid to the Jefferson Insurance Company of North Carolina, starting midseasonthe Owner did not put a penny toward it. background-color:#ba3434; Hunter's contract with the A's was straightforward. [16] New York was closer to his home in North Carolina and the team played on natural grass. During his senior year in November 1963, Hunter's right foot was wounded by a brother in a hunting accident; helost one of his toes and shotgun pellets lodged in his foot. How much did Catfish Hunter weigh when playing? It didnt take long for the $1 million predictions to be blown from the water. 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. 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. 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.. Earlier reports said Hunter ing the deciding vote, took the action after Hunter charged that Charles O. Finley, owner of the Oakland A's, had breached his 1974 contract by not paying $50,000 of his $100,000 salary on a deferred payment basis to an insurance company by the stipulated time. The Yankees, trying to regain the glory that was theirs until the last decade, landed the 28yearold righthander, considered by many experts to be baseball's premier pitcher, with an assist from Clyde Kluttz, a club scout. 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. us, Died: Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 1968 May 08. By the time they reached New York it was 10 pages long and barely legible, owing to a bumpy trip. Shortly after 7:00 p.m. Paul had a staffer schedule a news conference for 8:15. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved. He also won four times without losing in the World Series. Hunter, Jim, 1946-1999. 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. Or write about sports? Rule Changes Probable Pitchers Starting Lineups Transactions Injury Report World Baseball Classic MLB Draft All-Star Game MLB Pipeline Postseason History. Bitter feelings from that exchange stayed with the pitcher for a long time, and informed his future actions. Catfish was leaning toward San Diego, although Cherry was still championing the Royals. The race was on. 1) We are making 4166.67 for 12 installments bimonthly and our investment is growing @6%. . That was the biggest thing that ever came to Ahoskie (N.C.).. It seemed for a moment that the midnight deadline might come and go. [4] He had won 161 games for the A's, 131 in seven seasons in Oakland and 30 in his first three seasons in Kansas City. The document would come to be known around Yankees HQ as the Catfish Hunter Manifesto.. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Peter Seitz, who declared Hunter free in a breach-of-contract . They were talking about nearly $3.5 million over five years, and Paul needed help. Hadnt the Owner been the one to personally scout him in the backwoods of Hertford, N.C.? . - B-NY76-B (Doug McWilliams / National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), One thing worried me, Miller later reflected. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. Many thanks to him. If he wasnt the Hunter of old, he was close enough. When the A's failed to hold to a contract-mandated insurance payment, Catfish became the league's first free agent, and joined the New York Yankees for the remainder of his career (1974-9.) My favorite player of all time. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. [35] He was unconscious for several days after the fall, but he had returned home from that hospitalization when he died. There was no hiding it now. 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. Hunter, a major leaguer for 10 years, tied for the most victories, in the majors last season with 25. Starting with Catfish Hunter's landmark contract for the 1975 season, let's go back and find the pitchers who set the marks for highest total value contract. [23] Hunter was also a competent hitter, with a career batting average of .226; in 1971 he hit .350 with 36 hits in 38 games. . From 1965 to 1979, he was a pitcher for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. The total. Find Catfish Hunter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. There was no questioning, however, that Catfish meant every word he said. Catfish Hunter signs free agent contract with New York Yankees, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. (12 x $4,166.67 = $50,000.04. [2][9][10] Hunter recalled being scared after he was declared a free agent. You were the first to teach us how to win.. Born: I did everything I could to live up to the contract, but he still has not paid the money, Hunter told him. He was owed $100,000 total in 1974, with $50,000 to be paid to him directly from Finley and the remaining half to be issued in monthly payments on an insurance annuity. If it hadn't been for him, the Yankees would've had a little more trouble signing me.. Lets get this out of the way, he told the pitcher. When we started winning in Oakland, Cat was the father of those teams, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said. By Oct. 11 it was national news. For this reason, he declined to choose a team; accordingly, his plaque depicts him with no logo on his cap. Furthermore, he was joining an organization that was hungry to regain its former glory. Experts are tested by Chegg as specialists in their subject area. In the Dodger Stadium press box, the agent laid it all out for the assembled media, adding that Hunter was not talking because his focus was on the World Series. Can I live in New York City? His attorney back home in North Carolina, J. Carlton Cherry, had advised him to defer some of it. [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]. Do you think Im a free agent?, Jim, let me ask you this, said Kapstein. He was a man of loyalty. Hunter admitted he was partially stunned when he learned of Seitzs ruling. Turbow, Jason. This, plus the acquisition of Bobby Bonds from San Francisco gives the team two of the biggest deals in its history. Before and after his induction, Hunter spoke highly of his experiences with both the Athletics and Yankees and his appreciation for both team owners, Charlie Finley and George Steinbrenner. [3] The accident left Hunter somewhat hobbled and jeopardized his prospects in the eyes of many professional scouts, but the Kansas City Athletics signed Hunter to a contract. Seitz was a perceptive, acute man. 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. 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. Hunters contract with the As was straightforward. [25][26], Arm injuries plagued Hunter beginning in 1978. Phone: 602.496.1460 Catfish Hunter was born on April 8, 1946. The irony of Kluttz's presence is that if he had accepted an offer to join the newly created major league scouting bureau late last season, he wouldn't have been available to help the Yankees with Hunter. AKA James Augustus Hunter. 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. Although his contemporaries were earning much moreTom Seaver made $173,000 in 1974, and Steve Carlton $165,000Catfish had no way of knowing that. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. The youngest son of eight children, Hunter was born and raised in Hertford in northeast North Carolina. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." (a) Using an annual effective interest rate of 6% (a rate that figures in a six-year personal loan of $120,000 that Oakland's owner Charlie Finley had made to Hunter in 1969 and then promptly recalled), find the value of the specified payments to the insurance company at the scheduled time of the last payment. Audio Record for Costas Coast to Coast Radio Program: 1987 Hall of Fame Induction Day recording P_BL-2020-00146-005.mp3 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. Hunter has been the subject of multiple popular culture references. I hung up the phone, Hunter said at the time when he learned of the ruling, and turned to my wife and said, We dont belong to anybody.. Finleys bombardment peaked in August. 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. They also noted, as per the terms therein, that Finley had 10 days in which to comply. The turning point in the negotiations came early yesterday afternoon when, after a conference call with the various parties involved, Edward Greenwald, one of nearly 20 owners of the Yankees, flew from his office in Cleveland to pick up Hunter and his lawyers. And what about the farm loan? Catfish Hunter Perfect Game cap. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. To be a Yankee is a thought in everyones head and mine, Hunter said. "We don't belong to anybody", he told his wife.[2]. 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. Ahoskie, N.C., population 5,500, was the big city close to Hunters home in Hertford, about an hours drive to the northwest. . 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. [2][29] Hunter won 63 games in his five seasons with the Yankees. . (Voted by BBWAA on 315/413 ballots) (Doug McWilliams/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) In 2004, the Oakland Athletics began the Catfish Hunter Award. If you didn't know he was making that kind of money, you'd never guess it because he was humble, very reserved about being a star-type player almost a little bit shy. Bowie Kuhn said it was like giving a life sentence to a pickpocket, and imposed a moratorium on other teams negotiating with Hunter. They both knew it was folly. Kluttz was no fan of the urban environment, but there were places on the outskirts with space to breathe. Just a few months later, however, the Owner purchased the Memphis Pros of the American Basketball Association, supplementing the hockey team he had already acquired, the NHLs California Golden Seals. In 1974, baseball was still operating under the reserve clause, which stipulated that a team retained complete control of a player unless he was given his unconditional release. Not only had the period passed, Hunter said, but Finley never even bothered to respond. In September, the pitcher turned to Washington attorney and agent Jerry Kapstein for help, and reported the pertinent details. Heis often referred to as baseball's first big-money free agent, and was a member of five World Series championship teams.[1]. Jackson wanted New York and the stage of Yankee Stadium, the same as Hunter did before him. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Hertford and Ahoskie had never seen anything like it and now the Yankees hope Hunter will help them see the things they always used to seepennants. The benefit to this arrangement was that instead of being in a high tax bracket in 1974, Hunter would be taxed later on, when he was effectively unemployed and on the hook for a smaller amount. Round your answers to the nearest cent.) Supposedly, Finley was upset about having to pay an additional $25,000 in taxes, but that amount of money would soon become . More precisely, there were to be semi-monthly contributions in Hunter's name to the Jefferson Insurance Company with the first payment on April 16 and the final payment on September 30. 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. This placed more strain on the financial reserves of Charles O. Finley & Company than anticipated. That was where the old scout shot the final arrow in his quiver. The courts agreed, refusing Finleys plea at two levels of the judiciary. Ordinarily, Paul could go directly to owner George Steinbrenner for approval, but the Boss had been suspended by Bowie Kuhn for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and was temporarily banned from contact. Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. Still, he made it to the end of a contract that were remembering today, because that contract ought to be remembered. Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. Closed now. Catfish Hunter and his wife, Helen, live in the same house in the tiny town of Hertford, N.C., that they lived in 20 years ago. Hunter wanted to make a decision by the next day, Dec. 31. Matt Kelly was the communications specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Do you have a sports website? Join our linker program. After Hunter's death, former teammate Reggie Jackson described Hunter as a "fabulous human being. Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of images. He asked Finley for a leave of absence between starts to pull something together, but his request was denied. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. When Finley rebuffed, Marvin Miller, head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, seized the opportunity. Posed action on the mound of James "Catfish" Hunter of the New York Yankees, 1976. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. 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. On September 5, 2018, Hunter was inducted into the Oakland Athletics first Hall of Fame class, with wife, Helen, there to receive the honor. Data Provided By They might not rank with the trade for a Babe Ruth, but they'll do for their present needs. That was their signing of Dick Williams to manage the club after he resigned as manager of the A's with one year to go on his contract. [2], In 1990, Hunter was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. Rookie Status: (Hunter wished to have such an annuity in lieu of immediate salary for tax reasons. Notably absent from the proceedings was George Steinbrenner, the Yankee general partner who is forbidden from participating in Yankee affairs under terms of his twoyear suspension from baseball following his conviction for illegal political contributions. [39] His number 27 was retired by the Oakland Athletics in a pre-game ceremony on June 9, 1991, the first in the franchise's 90 year history.[38][40]. however, I hereby offer, without qualification, to purchase and own the annuity on your life as you requested on or about August 1, 1974.. Kapstein heard about it just in time to hightail over to Dodger Stadium for Fridays workout. Catfish Hunter left the Athletics via free agency following the 1974 season and signed with the Yankees. Catfish broke the news of his possible departure to Tenace, Bando and Rudi that night over dinner with their wives. [24] He left the game with a bruised foot and was eventually placed on the 21-day disabled list with the injury, not pitching again until May5. background-image:unset; Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. 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. In the Marvel Comics' Tomb of Dracula #51 (December 1976, page 26), the narrative written by Marv Wolfman states that "Dracula throws Blade through a window with the ease of Catfish Hunter throwing a fastball. The total value of the pact sets a record for baseball. I told him, I don't want it that way. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 1974 December 31. (b) Suppose that the contracted payments had been made to the insurance company from April 16, 1974 through September 30, 1974, and that they accumulated at an annual effective interest rate of 6%. It was 47 years ago, New Years Eve of 1974, that baseball changed forever. On Oct. 4 the MLBPA sent a telegram to Finleys Chicago office, notifying the Owner of his default and informing him that because of the impending playoffs and World Series, the effective date of termination [of Hunters contract] shall be the day following the last game played by the Oakland Athletics in 1974., The ALCS began at the Coliseum the following day. Hunter tried to arrange alternative financing through multiple banks in North Carolina, but without showing up in person it couldnt be done. Prior to the 1968 season, Finley moved the A's from Kansas City to Oakland. James Augustus Hunter (April 8, 1946 September 9, 1999), nicknamed "Catfish", was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB). An arbitration ruling had to possess serious discrepancies to be overturnedcapricious, arbitrary or dishonest conduct was how Kuhn described it, even as he noted that none of the above factored into Seitzs decision. [8] Twenty days later on December 16, arbitrator Peter Seitz decided in favor of Hunter, officially making him a free agent. Hunter was the last major league pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season. September 9, 1999 In the movie Grumpier Old Men, an enormous and highly prized fish is named "Catfish Hunter" by the locals. Hunter signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $3.25 million contract. 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. Copyright 2017 by Jason Turbow. We need to calculate the future value of this. I thought it might be too drastic for an arbitrator.. Never complained or made excuses - just an under-rated big time pitcher. A decade later it was Kluttz, still tight with the pitcher, who suggested Hunters $200,000-per-year compromise offer to Finley. [22] He also became only the fourth (and last) American League pitcher to win 20 games in a season for five consecutive seasons (19711975). Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." Just like that, Major League Baseball had its first true free agent. More precisely, there were to be semi-monthly contributions in Hunter's name to the Jefferson Insurance Company with the first payment on April 16 and the final. This is a 12-month CONTRACT position with a possible extension . 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. If the arbitrator sided with Hunter, the star pitchers contract could be voided. Catfish Hunter joined the Yankees in 1975 after a contract breach made him a free agent following 10 seasons with the Athletics, including three as a teammate with Dave Hamilton (right). If we win in the courts and the Yankees have played him prior to our winning, the Yankees certainly will be in for tremendous damages.. 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. My confidence grew as the hearing developed, Miller said. He was credited by Steinbrenner as the cornerstone of the Yankees in their return to championship form. You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts. You talk to him once more. So Kluttz did exactly that. Finley, unwilling to consider anybodys terms but his own, refused. Catfish Hunter played for 3 teams; the Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. I tried not to think the worst of him, but it was impossible.. Pen has two white stripes running down the length of the pen, one on each side. Joseph Flythe, one of the attorneys from Ahoskie, N.C., said six other teamsPittsburgh, Los Angeles, Montreal, San Diego, Kansas City and Clevelandremained in the serious bidding until Hunter decided he wanted to join the Yankees. The Rangers discussed a generous straight salary, plus a farm annuity, plus $30,000 a year for 15 years. James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter played for championship teams in both Oakland and New York, finding success wherever he went. Buttermaker asks, "Who do you think you are, Catfish Hunter?" On the way I did a rough draft of the contract and he signed the draft three hours later. [2][3][30] A month before his death, Hunter fell and hit his head on concrete steps at home. In 1966 and 1967, he was named to the American League All-Star team. Finley, he said, you pay it the way the contract reads, and everything will be just fine. Finley launched into histrionics, crying to MacPhail, What can I do? On Wednesday, May 8, against the Minnesota Twins, Hunter pitched the ninth perfect game in baseball history. Object number: B-1968-0141. Be sure no one else knows, he warned. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Hunter's statistics while he was with the Athletics were impressive: four consecutive years with at least 20 wins, and four World Series wins without a loss. 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. May 13, 1965 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. Finley's default on his contractual obligation led to Hunter's historic free agency. . I was probably the first player who broke it open for other players to be paid what they're worth, Hunter said. The Owner went out of his way to invest money for Catfish, generating an after-tax profit of $15,000 in 1972 alone.

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catfish hunter contract