The recent signing by the New York Yankees of free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole to a record nine years, $324 million contracts reminded some older fans of another time when they spared no expense to sign the best pitcher in baseball. This is the story of how the Yankees reeled in Jim “Catfish” Hunter.
It all began in February of 1974 when Hunter signed a two year deal with the Oakland Athletics-coming off their second straight World Series title-worth a total of $200,000 (You may commence laughing). There was a clause in the contract stipulating Oakland owner Charlie Finley pay a $50,000 annuity each year.