A’s perfecto pitcher ‘Catfish’ Hunter signs with Yankees, 41 years ago today

Jim “Catfish” Hunter, who threw a perfect game for the Oakland Athletics in 1968, signed with the New York Yankees 41 years ago today.

Hunter’s 5-year, $3.75 million dollar contract was unprecedented in its day, tripling what any other major league player was making.

“With the Cat, we are World Champions,” A’s teammate Reggie Jackson told the AP. “Without him, we are a question mark … we are not a shoo-in anymore.” Jackson would jump from the A’s to the Yanks on November 29, 1976.

Hunter’s 1968 perfect game for the A’s was was his only career no-hitter. On Wednesday, May 8, 1968, Hunter retired every Minnesota Twins batter he faced for a 4-0 win at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.