Date of Birth: April 8, 1946
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: September 9, 1999
Biography
James Augustus “Catfish” Hunter was an American professional baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 to 1979. Born in Hertford, North Carolina, Hunter became one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. He began his career with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and later played for the New York Yankees. Hunter earned his nickname “Catfish” from Athletics’ owner Charlie Finley, who believed it would make him more marketable. Hunter was a right-handed pitcher known for his excellent control and competitive spirit. He became the first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by the age of 31. Over his illustrious career, he won five World Series championships, was an eight-time All-Star, and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1974. Hunter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history.
5 Interesting Facts about Catfish Hunter
1. Catfish Hunter pitched a perfect game on May 8, 1968, against the Minnesota Twins.
2. He was the first pitcher in the American League to win 200 games before the age of 31.
3. Hunter was part of the Oakland Athletics team that won three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974.
4. He signed a then-record five-year contract worth $3.35 million with the New York Yankees in 1974, making him one of the highest-paid players of his era.
5. Hunter was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1998.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Catfish Hunter
1. “Winning isn’t everything, but it’s the only thing.”
2. “The only thing I can do is play baseball. I have to play baseball to make a living.”
3. “You have to be a man to play baseball for a living, but you have to have a lot of little boy in you too.”
4. “I had some friends here from North Carolina who’d never seen a perfect game before. So I figured I’d better put one on for them.”
5. “The game has given me more than I ever expected.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Catfish Hunter’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million, a substantial amount for his time.
Children
Catfish Hunter had three children with his wife, Helen: two daughters, Todd and Kim, and a son, Paul.
Relevant Links
1. [Baseball Hall of Fame – Catfish Hunter](https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/hunter-catfish
2. [MLB Stats – Catfish Hunter](https://www.mlb.com/player/catfish-hunter-116448
3. [ESPN Biography – Catfish Hunter](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/bio/_/id/116448
