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1976 Topps #100 - Jim Hunter
Jim Hunter had five 20-win seasons four for the Oakland A's and one for the New York Yankees. He was named to eight AL All-Star games and won the 1974 Cy Young Award. He started 35 or more games every year from 1967-1976 (which probably shortened his career).
- Jim started with the A's in 1965 and endured a few seasons with a below-average team before the new guys (Reggie, Bando, Rudi, Blue, etc.) came up. Hunter was the A's ace for most of the time he spent with them.
- Hunter was granted free agency after the 1975 season because of a goofy mistake by Charlie Finley. Jim signed with the Yankees and had two good years before arm problems shortened his career. He retired after the 1979 season.
- Jim was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987. Here is a link to his Hall of Fame page. I can't tell from his plaque whether he went in as an Athletic or as a Yankee.
- Jim came down with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and died after a fall in 1999. Here is a Sports Illustrated article written during the last part of his life.
- Here is a 1980 Sports Illustrated article about life after retirement.
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I believe his cap had no logo on it. I don't know why it wouldn't have been an A's cap, but back then it was the player's choice.
ReplyDeleteCorrect. Hunter refused to choose between the teams and requested instead that his cap be left without a logo.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall that Gary Carter wanted to go in as a Met but somehow that decision was changed so he would go in as an Expo. Don't know if that was the Hall of Fame, MLB or what.
The decision was taken out of the player's hand when some allegedly were offered money by various teams to wear their cap. Wade Boggs with the Devil Rays and Andre Dawson with the Marlins are 2 that I heard rumored.
ReplyDeleteNow the player can express a preference, but the decision is not his. Not sure who makes the final call though.