What is your favorite Jim "Catfish" Hunter card

[nolemmings]

And for all of you who bang on pitch and inning counts, Catfish won 200 games by age 30, 23 after 30 and was out of baseball at age 33, going 2 and 9 in his final season. His career was very similar to many young arms who started pitching in the early and mid 60's.

You mean like Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Fergie Jenkins, Jim Palmer, Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton and Phil Niekro?

BTW, Catfish announced before the 1979 season began that it would be his last. His wife was pregnant and he wanted to spend more time with family. Also, although he did suffer from arm trouble that year, he lost his mentor, Clyde Klutz, one of his best friends, Thurman Munson, and his father all during that season. Whether he had anything left in the tank at that point seems irrelevant under those circumstances.

[David W]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

You mean like Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Fergie Jenkins, Jim Palmer, Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton and Phil Niekro?

BTW, Catfish announced before the 1979 season began that it would be his last. His wife was pregnant and he wanted to spend more time with family. Also, although he did suffer from arm trouble that year, he lost his mentor, Clyde Klutz, one of his best friends, Thurman Munson, and his father all during that season. Whether he had anything left in the tank at that point seems irrelevant under those circumstances.

Like Jim Maloney, Gary Nolan, Don Gullet, Larry Dirkier, Mel stottlemire, Dean chance, Ken Holtzman, to name a few off the top of my head

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by David W

Like Jim Maloney, Gary Nolan, Don Gullet, Larry Dirkier, Mel stottlemire, Dean chance, Ken Holtzman, to name a few off the
\top of my head

I still don't believe you've made your point. All of those you just named had careers of at least ten years except Gullett, who FWIW came from the 70's and not the 60's that you you used in your premise. Several of these pitchers began their MLB careers while in their teens, which may have something to do with whatever you're trying to prove about pitch counts and earlier retirement, although it might be argued that they simply were not properly developed rather than overused. As for Gullett, he never was an innings eater in any event. He also suffered a series of unfortunate maladies/misfortunes that explain his low innings and have nothing to do with overuse, like hepatitis, a broken thumb from a batted ball, several neck muscle spasms and pulls, etc.

[con40]

I always thought the reason Hunter retired was because he was diagnosed with diabetes in 1978 and the insulin treatments were very difficult and he went downhill physically pretty fast.

[kailes2872]

I remember a late '70's commercial with Chap Stick - "Hey Catfish, can we call you Chap Stick?"

Was confused as a young boy then. Still confused today.

[geosluggo]

Felt inspired to dig out the whole run. Grew up detesting the Yankees but for some reason I really like the 1976 card...

[geosluggo]

Didn't realize until I looked at this card that Skip Lockwood started out as an infielder. Later converted to pitcher and had a 57-97 career record but was good enough to stay in the bigs 12 years. Hunter was a better hitter -- .226 vs .154