Jim "Catfish" Hunter

Jim "Catfish" Hunter, (pictured above) the greatest pitcher in Oakland A's history, died of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 1999 at the age of 53.  "Catfish", as he was nicknamed by legendary Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley, was an 8-time All-Star, a 5-Time 20-Game Winner and a 5-Time World Champion. Perhaps the crown jewel of Catfish's incredible career is the Perfect Game he pitched vs. Minnesota on May 5, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum. In 1974 "Catfish" recorded 25 wins on his way to the A.L. Cy Young award. Later than winter, "Catfish" signed a 5 year $3.75 million dollar contract with the Yankees, at that time far and away the richest free-agent contract in baseball history. During the five years that "Catfish" wore pinstripes, the Yankees claimed three pennants and two World Championships. Before he retired "Catfish" Hunter tallied 224 career wins, 181 complete games, 42 shutouts, 2,012 strikeouts, 3,449 innings pitched, and a 3.26 career ERA. His post season legacy is no less remarkable. It includes 4 ALCS wins, 5 World Series wins (one of them a shutout) and a total of 70 post season strkeouts. This standout right hander was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1999, the same year he died, "Catfish" founded the Jim "Catfish" Hunter ALS Foundation in his hometown of Hertford, North Carolina.