1975 Topps Gum Card Catfish Hunter rose as 19 year old for the old Kansas City Athletics to a star pitcher for two different World Champions, the Oakland A's of 1972-74 and the New York Yankees of 1977 & 78. Charley O. Finley nicknamed him 'Catfish' to inject some color into his image. Hunter pitched a no-hitter in 1968 and won over 20 games five years in-a-row. Catfish Hunter relied on his fastball and great control to lead the powerful Oakland A's to three world championships, he won 21, 21 and 25 games in those three years. He won the Cy Young Award in 1974 with his 25-12 record and a league leading 2.74 ERA. Jim Catfish Hunter was the first star free agent in this time, receiving $3.75 million from the Yankees. He led the Yankees to three consecutive pennants. Hunter won the final game of the 1978 World Series and he ranks in the top ten in five world series pitching categories. A Hall of Famer in his career he went 224-166, with an low ERA of 3.26. |