Second, so what if you're in the orchestra? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Hunter probably didnt think he was changing the world because an arbitrator ruled in his favor. Hunter wanted to make a decision by the next day, Dec. 31. The display swayed MacPhail, who later said, The Oakland club offered everything to which [Hunter] is entitled. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. The most recent challenge to the reserve clause, made by St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood, had been denied by the U.S. Supreme Court two years before. The race was on. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. I told him, I don't want it that way. That kind of financial outlay required the Yankees to squeeze every penny they could from the contract, and for tax purposes it made sense to put the deal on their 1974 books. If you didn't know he was making that kind of money, you'd never guess it because he was humble, very reserved about being a star-type player almost a little bit shy. Catfish Hunter Contract pen. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. however, I hereby offer, without qualification, to purchase and own the annuity on your life as you requested on or about August 1, 1974.. . [4] At the time, Hall of Fame officials would always defer to the player's wishes in determining which team would be memorialized on his Hall of Fame Plaque. vs. CHW 2.0 IP, 0 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER, Last Game: He had just completed a stellar season, capturing the Cy Young Award after leading the American League in wins (25) and earned run average (2.49) and powering the Oakland Athletics to their third consecutive World Series title. If it was not valid, that meant Catfish had been pitching contract-free, which would make him a free agent. [2][29] Hunter won 63 games in his five seasons with the Yankees. As it all unfolded Hunter received a personal letter at his own PO box in Hertford that read, in part, I naturally feel that the arbitrator, in making his decision, exceeded his authority and jurisdiction. On Wednesday, May 8, against the Minnesota Twins, Hunter pitched the ninth perfect game in baseball history. A decade later it was Kluttz, still tight with the pitcher, who suggested Hunters $200,000-per-year compromise offer to Finley. [6] Hunter made his professional baseball debut in the Florida Instructional League in 1964 but otherwise never played in the minor leagues. Read more. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. }, Cronkite School at ASU FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, Sports Illustrated, Jason Turbow/Sports Illustrated, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. AKA James Augustus Hunter. Steinbrenner? Hunter was the first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by age31. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store / Restaurant #221 of 1276 places to eat in Lansing. During his first season with the team, hewent home with 23wins. It was from Finley. He retired with appearances in six World Series and with five World Series championships. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Catfish Hunter was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1987. I cannot believe that Catfish would do this to me, he said. Hunter, Kluttz, and a coterie of lawyers from Cherrys office met Greenwalds plane at the Suffolk Airport in Virginia, some 45 minutes away. The other was that the Owner did not actually sign the document. When you play with guys like that, you feel blessed."[42]. Two weeks after he won his arbitration, Hunter became the highest-paid player in baseball and highest-paid pitcher in history when he signed a five-year contract with the New York Yankees worth $3.35 million. [3] The accident left Hunter somewhat hobbled and jeopardized his prospects in the eyes of many professional scouts, but the Kansas City Athletics signed Hunter to a contract. His attorney back home in North Carolina, J. Carlton Cherry, had advised him to defer some of it. Pen has two white stripes running down the length of the pen, one on each side. Those three seasons, 1972-74, ended with the A's as World Champions each time. Finley remained bewildered, at least publicly. 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. That is exactly how Cherry wrote the addendum: $50,000 per year, to be paid at regular intervals through the season, and $50,000 disbursed to an entity of Hunters choosing. In 1976, Hunter was also the subject of the Bobby Hollowell song "The Catfish Kid (Ballad of Jim Hunter)", which was performed by Big Tom White and released on a 45 RPM single. Kluttz was no fan of the urban environment, but there were places on the outskirts with space to breathe. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He was owed $100,000 total in 1974, with $50,000 to be paid to him directly from Finley and the remaining half to be issued in monthly payments on an insurance annuity. By days end the Red Sox had upped it to $3 million over five. Andruw Jones Hall of Fame Classic Home Run Derby Autographed bat, Bob Feller Signing Contract with Hank Greenberg photograph, Babe Ruth and Jacob Ruppert at Contract Signing photograph, Philadelphia Phillies versus San Diego Padres scorecard, Chicago Cubs versus New York Yankees scorecard. All rights reserved. There was no hiding it now. That was the day that Jim "Catfish" Hunter left the Oakland A's after an arbitrator named Peter Seitz ruled that the A's had violated Hunter's contract by not paying him money he was owed. While Paul and Flythe made travel preparations for New York, Greenwald was already on his way to the airport in Cleveland to charter a plane to North Carolina. Upon landing in New York at 6:00 p.m., the group sped to Pauls office, where they pored over the details, point by point. Heis often referred to as baseball's first big-money free agent, and was a member of five World Series championship teams.[1]. The others were Walter Johnson (10), Lefty Grove (7), and Bob Feller (5). Tenace spent the ensuing days humming If I Were a Rich Man around the clubhouse. Please note that not all works are on view at all times - their availability is subject to change per the discretion of the Museum staff. But before Steinbrenner had gone off to serve his suspension, hed said this to Paul: Any time you have the opportunity to get control of a player for cash, go ahead.. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. (Hunter wished to have such an annuity in lieu of immediate salary for tax reasons. Paul was vibrant when he called Flythe back. More precisely, there were to be semi-monthly contributions in Hunter's name to the Jefferson Insurance Company with the first payment on April 16 and the final payment on September 30. At Hunters salary$21,500 in 1969, $33,200 in 70it was a stretch, but worth it. Andruw Jones Hall of Fame Classic Home Run Derby Autographed bat, Bob Feller Signing Contract with Hank Greenberg photograph, Babe Ruth and Jacob Ruppert at Contract Signing photograph, Philadelphia Phillies versus San Diego Padres scorecard, Chicago Cubs versus New York Yankees scorecard. All proceeds from the weekend benefit ALS research. Phone: 602.496.1460 To be a Yankee is a thought in everyones head and mine, Hunter said. Hegrew up on a farm and excelled in a variety of sports at Perquimans County High School. When the 1974 season opened, Finley made the standard payments every two weeks as agreed. Rookie Status: When Miller and MLB Players Association counsel Dick Moss read the contract, they agreed with Hunters interpretation and sent written notice to Finley about the violation. His older brothers taught him to pitch,[2] and his pitching skill began to attract scouts from MLB teams to Hertford. 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. For reasons that remain nebulous to this day, Finley failed to make a $50,000 life insurance annuity payment on behalf of Jim "Catfish" Hunter, even though it was clearly stipulated in the ace pitcher's contract. Hunter tried to arrange alternative financing through multiple banks in North Carolina, but without showing up in person it couldnt be done. He was owed $100,000 total in 1974, with $50,000 to be paid to him directly from Finley and the remaining half to be issued in monthly payments on an insurance annuity. Asked if Hunter's high salary would affect the morale of the other players, Paul said, The morale of the club is helped when you add a man of Hunter's status. Hunter and his team entertained between three and five clubs a day, 48 executives in all by the time things wrapped up. Catfish Hunter signs free agent contract with New York Yankees, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. He had his best season in his last. Closed now. Seitz was a perceptive, acute man. Anyone can read what you share. Hunter was to repay the money at a minimum of $20,000 per year, plus 6 percent interest, for as long as it took to get square. Before and after his induction, Hunter spoke highly of his experiences with both the Athletics and Yankees and his appreciation for both team owners, Charlie Finley and George Steinbrenner. By the end of the 1974 season, Jim Catfish Hunter was the ace on baseballs best team. If the arbitrator sided with Hunter, the star pitchers contract could be voided. Earlier reports said Hunter ing the deciding vote, took the action after Hunter charged that Charles O. Finley, owner of the Oakland A's, had breached his 1974 contract by not paying $50,000 of his $100,000 salary on a deferred payment basis to an insurance company by the stipulated time. In You, Me and Dupree, Catfish Hunter is mentioned by Owen Wilson's character, Dupree, convincing an Asian orchestra student that he can pitch: "First, call me Dupree 'cause I'm your teammate. Seek out and celebrate your heroes, and explore online and in-person exhibits commemorating the history and impact of the game. I did everything I could to live up to the contract, but he still has not paid the money, Hunter told him. In the last World Series, he said, I had a card in my locker that said, Winning isn't everything, but wanting to is. I always want to win.. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Catfish Hunter and his wife, Helen, live in the same house in the tiny town of Hertford, N.C., that they lived in 20 years ago. Jim "Catfish" Hunter, the Hall of Fame pitcher who ushered in baseball's era of big bucks for free agents, died today at age 53 after battling the disease named after another New York Yankees. Finley argued that he believed the deal to involve deferred money, paid after the pitchers career endednot a sum due right away. The catfish fish (under the chicken) was fried to perfection and seasoned well. View Catfish Hunter's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). Hunter eventually pitched in three World Series for the Yankees, after winning three straight championships with the As from 1972-74, before coming to New York. Catfish Hunter's 1974 baseball contract with the Oakland Athletics called for half of his $100,000 salary to be paid to a life insurance company of his choice for the purchase of a deferred annuity. The Yankees, meanwhile, were revitalized by their new addition. Joked Burke, Well, we wont have to worry about that, will we? The benefit to Finley was that he got to hold on to the money in the interim, earning interest on it all the while. This was the pitcher who was the object of the affections and treasuries of teams that sent a constant stream of representatives to the tiny town of Hertford where Hunter has lived all of his life and the tiny town of Ahoskie where the law firm of Cherry, Cherry and Flythe has its offices. "We don't belong to anybody", he told his wife.[2]. The total value of the pact sets a record for baseball. Miller had been following the dispute closely, and recognized that Finleys breach of contract represented a chance to take Hunters case to a neutral arbitrator. [7] He made his major league debut in May, and earned his first win on July 27 in Fenway Park over the Boston Red Sox. Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." While football, basketball and hockey have been subjected to costly bidding wars in the last 15 years because of the birth of competing leagues, baseball has never had that problem. Jim "Catfish" Hunter holds Yankee emblem after signing multi-million dollar contract. The money Hunter made when he signed that night at the Yankees old offices in the Parks Administration Building (in Flushing, Queens, of all places) seems quaint in comparison to the money modern free agents now make. Pen has a silver clip near the top with "Regal / 39c / Carbide Ball Fine." The Royals weighed in with $137,500 per year for six years, money for the farm, college tuition for Hunters kids, and a figure that nearly got the pitcher to sign on the spot$50,000 a year for life. Jim "Catfish" Hunter helped the Yankees to three American League pennants and two World Series titles after leaving the Athletics following the 1974 season. Just like that, Major League Baseball had its first true free agent. Hunter became a free agent after Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley was found to be in breach of contract after he refused to pay $50,000 for an insurance annuity that was part of the pitcher's. Furthermore, he was joining an organization that was hungry to regain its former glory. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. If he wasnt the Hunter of old, he was close enough. . Seitz took 20 days to announce his decision, and when he did it was groundbreaking. Hollowell was best friends with the young Jim Hunter while they grew up together. (Age 33-162d) Not long afterward, with Steinbrenner back in control of the Yankees and starting to throw money around, he signed Catfish Hunters old As teammate, Reggie Jackson, to a five-year contract with a total value of $3.5 million. Even less palatable for Finley was the discovery that about $25,000 in taxes was due immediately, and he would be the one paying them. This was the highest ever at the time which also earned him immense fame. The Owner immediately sought a court order overturning Seitzs ruling. [41] An annual softball event is held in Hertford in memory of Hunter. But the document in question was the only contract Hunter had. [35] He was unconscious for several days after the fall, but he had returned home from that hospitalization when he died. But after making such fine history in Oakland -- in the Fall Classics and with four straight 20-win seasons -- Hunter made a different kind of history off the field in New York on New Years Eve, where the big news on that night wasnt just a ball dropping in Times Square. (Doug McWilliams/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Find out more. Jim (Catfish) Hunter signed a fiveyear contract estimated at $3.75million with the New York Yankees last night, ending the most celebrated bidding war in American sports history. The following is excerpted fromDynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finleys Swingin As. April 8, 1946 After Finley refused to make payment on the annuity after discovering he had to pay $25,000 in taxes which was due immediately, the breach of contract dispute was brought before an arbitration hearing on November 26, 1974. As the room began to fill, the two sides were still finalizing details. You know Jim and he knows you. Find Catfish Hunter stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Only an hour after the World Series ended, even as Oakland players celebrated in their clubhouse, the union filed two grievancesone against Finley for breach of contract, another against Kuhn and Major League Baseball for failure to declare Hunter a free agent. Ring in the new. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. 12,369th in major league history) Clyde never lied to me then and he never lied to me now, said Hunter, who has won 88 games in the last four seasons while helping pitch the A's to three consecutive World Series championships. How many seasons did Catfish Hunter play? Bowie Kuhn said it was like giving a life sentence to a pickpocket, and imposed a moratorium on other teams negotiating with Hunter. On a personal level, Finley could not understand Hunters ingratitude. Hunter came back to the Yankees that July, when they were still 13 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East. American, Southern, Vegetarian options $$$$ To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. It didnt take long for the $1 million predictions to be blown from the water. Continuing his explanation of why he picked the Yankees, Hunter said, To be a Yankee is a thought in everyone's head and mine. Bio/Historical NotePen used by Jim "Catfish" Hunter to sign a five-year contract estimated at $3.75 million with the New York Yankees on December 31, 1974. Finley, however, was late in delivering the insurance payments, creating strife between owner and pitcher. What about the five grand he gave him for pitching a perfect game, or the cost of a new Cadillac for winning 21 in 1971? That last detail, it turned out, would prove to be instrumental in the years to come. This time they're confident Finley won't beat them, but, Paul added, The courts take precedence over everything. when his unfortunate suspension was invoked, Paul said of Steinbrenner, he told men, any time you have an opportunity to buy the contract of a player for cash, I want you to go ahead whenever, in your judgment, it would be advantageous to the Yankees.. And the map shows spots in Michigan, where fishermen caught Flathead catfish. Catfish Hunter played for 3 teams; the Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. On September 5, 2018, Hunter was inducted into the Oakland Athletics first Hall of Fame class, with wife, Helen, there to receive the honor. In 1975, pitchers Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith played without contracts. When Finley rebuffed, Marvin Miller, head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, seized the opportunity. How about my wife? asked Catfish. Hunters team claimed that Finley knew everything about the annuity arrangement from the beginning and willingly defaulted. I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. Hunter had arm troubles in New York and was diagnosed with diabetes, and he only occasionally looked like the pitcher who had gone 88-35 over his final four seasons with the As. Please email us if you have further information on the rights status of an image contrary to or in addition to the information in our records. . Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. After a dispute over a technicality in his contract with Oakland A's owner, Charles O. Finley, Hunter had become the first free agent in baseball's modern era. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. vs. CLE 6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 SO, 1 BB, 4 ER. Hed always wanted to earn six figures, and when Finley made the offer it seemed just fine. 071B6200168 between THE STATE OF MICHIGAN and NAME & ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR / VENDOR VENDOR TELEPHONE CLIENT NETWORK SERVICES, INC. (CNSI) (301) 634-4600 702 King Farm Boulevard, 2nd Floor Rockville, MD 20850 Mr. B. Chatterjee, President [chatterjee@cns-inc.com](or) BUYER/CA Dale Reif Mr. Jaytee Kanwal, Chief Financial Officer (or) . Keep up with headlines and events at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and see who will be taking their place in history next. As a fellow North Carolinian, hed endeared himself to the Hunter family, earning extra points shortly after Hunter first signed when Finley tried to backtrack and get the teenager to agree to a second contractdated 1965 instead of 1964that would have allowed him to be sent to the minors without penalty owing to the expiration of the bonus baby rule. The New York Yankees signed Hunter to a five-year, $3,750,000 contract.) Following the 1979 season and the end of his five-year contract, Hunter retired from baseball at age 33. Tasked to make sense of it was a three-person panel. After a dispute over a technicality in his contract with Oakland A's owner, Charles O. Finley, Hunter had become the first free agent in baseball's modern era. CONTRACT NO. I thought it might be too drastic for an arbitrator.. Just walking into Yankee Stadium, chills run through you. In 2019, MLB's revenues were $10.7 billion, the average player's salary $4.43 million. James Augustus Hunter (April 8, 1946 September 9, 1999), nicknamed "Catfish", was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB). We suppose that the first eleven of these were to be for $4,166.67, and the final payment was to be for four cents less. In obtaining Hunter, the Yankees immeasurably improved their chances for winning their first pennant since 1964. While the union of baseballs most famous team and perhaps its most famous pitcher was intriguing enough, the price tag was the true headline: A five-year deal worth about $3.2 million, along with a $1 million signing bonus. Still, he made it to the end of a contract that were remembering today, because that contract ought to be remembered. [3] The song was later released by Dylan, Joe Cocker and Kinky Friedman. Born: As soon as the season ended Hunter raced home to arrange for a second loan to cover the first, but gave up when a boundary-line dispute delayed the proceedings. Ill give you the money, and we can go try to win the World Series. Catfish, heeding Cherrys advice, turned him down. Catfish Hunter weighed 190 lbs (86 kg) when playing. Matt Kelly was the communications specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. On New Year's Eve, it shouldn't matter if. Ahoskie, N.C., population 5,500, was the big city close to Hunters home in Hertford, about an hours drive to the northwest. While playing for the Yankees, Catfish Huntercontinued to perform well. I didn't have a job. It seemed for a moment that the midnight deadline might come and go. I offer him the money and he wont take it.. News. But a free agent of Hunter's experience and status was unheard of. Finley was on the hook for the outstanding $50,000, plus interest, for Hunters services in 1974, and because he had not fulfilled the players contract, it was theretofore terminated. He sided with Hunter completely. Collections; . I love this place, said Catfishs old pitching coach in Oakland, Bill Posedale, in town representing his new employer, the San Diego Padres. Catfish Hunter Perfect Game cap. Below you can see the analytics for Flathead catfish fishing in Michigan. Hunter has been the subject of numerous popular culture references, including the Bob Dylan song "Catfish". After the designated hitter was adopted by the American League in 1973, Hunter had only two plate appearances in his final seven seasons, with one base hit in 1973. "[42] Former teammate Lou Piniella said, "Catfish was a very unique guy. For three weeks in December 1974, Cherrys firm became the most prominent entity on baseballs landscape, the result of the lawyers decision to avoid sending his client on a tour of interested parties and instead bring the parties to him. On Oct. 10, two days before the World Series was to start, Jerome Holtzman wrote a story about Hunters contract in the Chicago Sun-Times, based on a report he received from one of Hunters confidantsformer teammate Mike Hershbergerwhich included this bombshell: the best pitcher on the best team in the league was attempting to jump ship. From 1965 to 1979, he was a pitcher for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. There was no indication what it was about. It was 47 years ago, New Years Eve of 1974, that baseball changed forever. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. Finley was there, as was American League president Lee MacPhail. in Hertford, NC Dec. 31, 1974: Catfish Hunter, five . On Dec. 18, Kuhn, seeing no other option, lifted his moratorium. Catfish Hunter played 15 seasons. Hunter was afraid his career might be over in the summer of 1978, because of shoulder problems. After Hunter's death, former teammate Reggie Jackson described Hunter as a "fabulous human being. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Bitter feelings from that exchange stayed with the pitcher for a long time, and informed his future actions. The executive raged about being used as a pawn to drive up other offers, but there was little he could do. He led the league in wins (23) for the second year in a row, and also led the league in innings pitched (328) and complete games (30) to finish second to Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Cy Young balloting. Catfish was the clear ace, making four more All-Star teams in Oakland while averaging an incredible 38 starts and 281 innings per year, not counting postseason. When we started winning in Oakland, Cat was the father of those teams, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said. Find the amount of the annual salary payments. All because the quiet man from Hertford, N.C., didnt legally belong to anybody after it was ruled that he could leave Charlie Finleys As and make his own choices about where he wanted to pitch next. Much later, he became another champion Yankees player afflicted with ALS, the way Lou Gehrig had been, dying at the age of 53 back home in North Carolina. Further suppose that Hunter had drawn a level January 1st salary for twenty years, beginning on January 1, 1980, the first January after his retirement. You have breakfast with that boy tomorrow morning, she insisted. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. ", List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders, List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders, "Catfish Hunter, Who Pitched in 6 World Series for A's and Yankees, Dies at 53", "Catfish Hunter Winter Leagues Statistics & History". The Owner went out of his way to invest money for Catfish, generating an after-tax profit of $15,000 in 1972 alone. One thing Paul had working in his favor, however, was Yankees director of minor league scouting Clyde Kluttz. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. I bought the sports jacket I'm wearing now and left by jet at about 2 o'clock. The difference with Hunters stipulation was that the Owner wouldnt have the money at allthe annuity would. An arbitration ruling had to possess serious discrepancies to be overturnedcapricious, arbitrary or dishonest conduct was how Kuhn described it, even as he noted that none of the above factored into Seitzs decision. Hertford and Ahoskie had never seen anything like it and now the Yankees hope Hunter will help them see the things they always used to seepennants. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. [32][33][34] Hunter noticed arm weakness while hunting in the winter of 19971998. Hunter's contract with the A's was straightforward. After that, teams got creative. Audio Record for Costas Coast to Coast Radio Program: 1987 Hall of Fame Induction Day recording P_BL-2020-00146-005.mp3 The Jim "Catfish" Hunter Memorial is located in Hertford. It was also the location of the law offices of J. Carlton Cherry, Hunters 68-year-old longtime attorney, who had maintained a practice in town for some 45 years. Exceeded rookie limits during 1965 season, View Player Bio [2], Hunter died at his home in Hertford in 1999 at age 53, a year after his ALS diagnosis. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. For the first time since the 1870s, a major league player was free to offer his services to the highest bidder. 1972-74 Oakland Athletics, .avia-section.av-k6v62xgq-c0812a68936ee67ed4883eaa9d35be9b{ [8] Twenty days later on December 16, arbitrator Peter Seitz decided in favor of Hunter, officially making him a free agent. I believe there was a higher offer, but no matter how much money offered, if you want to be a Yankee, you don't think about it.. The ramifications of Hunters landmark contract, meanwhile, were felt outside the Bronx. Ring out the old. Twenty-two of the remaining 23 teams all but the San Francisco Giants entered the sweepstakes for baseballs best big game pitcher. - B-NY76-B (Doug McWilliams / National Baseball Hall of Fame Library), One thing worried me, Miller later reflected.