| Catfish Hunter | |
|---|---|
 Hunter with the New York Yankees, c. 1977 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: April 8, 1946 Hertford, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: September 9, 1999 (aged 53) Hertford, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 13, 1965, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 17, 1979, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 224–166 |
| Earned run average | 3.26 |
| Strikeouts | 2,012 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1987 |
| Vote | 76.3% (third ballot) |
James Augustus Hunter (April 8, 1946 – September 9, 1999), nicknamed "Catfish", was an American professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB). From 1965 to 1979, he was a pitcher for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. Hunter is the only pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by age 31. He is often referred to as baseball's first big-money free agent, and was a member of five World Series championship teams.[1]
Hunter was married to Helen Hunter and they had three children.[2] Hunter retired at age 33 following the 1979 season, after developing persistent arm problems, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in his early 50s, and died of the disease about a year after his diagnosis. Hunter has been the subject of numerous popular culture references, including the Bob Dylan song "Catfish".
- ^ "ALS deals Hunter final out". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). wire reports. September 10, 1999. p. 6C.
- ^ https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/06/24/new-york-yankees-old-timers-day-diana-munson-helen-hunter