(Originally published by the Daily News on October 13, 1977. This story was written by Phil Pepe.)
Catfish Hunter tried to do it from memory last night, but the memories were all bad. They were memories of home runs flying out of the ballpark, 341 of them served up during a regular-season career that dates back to 1965, the most ever hit off an American League pitcher.
Pitching for the first time in 32 days, Hunter couldn't get the breaking ball down to the Dodgers. And, when Catfish Hunter cannot get the breaking ball down, it means trouble…it means the fences become shorter…it means home runs.