Friday, September 10. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 7
7
'Catfish' Hunter dies at age 53
The Associated Press
Jim "Catfish" Hunter, the Hall of Fame pitcher who ushered in baseball's era of big bucks for free agents, died yesterday at age 53 after battling the disease named after another New York Yankees great, Leo Gehrig.
Hunter died at his home in Hertford, N.C., said George Byrum of Swindell Funeral Home in Hertford.
Hunter was one of baseball's most dominant pitchers during a 15-year career that gave him five World Series rings with the Oakland Athletics and the Yankees. He strung together five straight 20-victory seasons, pitched a perfect game and won a Cv Young Award.
He became the first multimillionaire player when he was declared a free-agent on a technicality after the 1974 season, then became the Yankees' workhorse the following two years, completing 51 of 75 starts and leading them to their first pennant in 12 seasons.
"I was probably the first player who broke it open for other play.
ers to be paid what they're worth," he said in 1887, a few hours after he was selected to the Hall of Fame.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner never doubted Hunter was worth every penny he got, calling him the cornerstone of the team's 1970s championships. More than a crafty pitcher with a range of speeds and exquisite control, Hunter gave the fractious Athletics and Yankees leadership.
He was a player's player, fiercely competitive on the field, a prankster who loved to have fun with teammates after the game. He grew a mustache and wore his hair long like them in the fashion of the late '60s and early '70s, but he retained his farmboy values and spun stories with a country draw.
"When you think of Catfish Hunter, you think of everything you want in a great major league pitcher," commissioner Bud Selig said yesterday.
In September 1998, Hunter learned he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disease that attacks nerves in the spinal cord and brain that control muscle movement, causing progressive paralysis and leading to death. There is no cure for the condition, commonly known as Lou Gebrut's disease.
Hunter also had diabetes and required insulin injections three times a day since 1978.
His health suffered another blow Aug. 8, when he fell and hit his head on concrete steps at his home. He was unconscious for several days but improved and was sent home to his farm on Saturday in fair condition, said the Rev. Keith Vaughan, a family spokesman.
Hunter, a dedicated outdoorsman, first noticed the neurological condition in the winter of 1997-98 when he was out hunting near his farm.
At first, he thought it might be a tick bite, but after repeated visits to doctors in Norfolk, Va., and the Duke and Johns Hopkins medical centers, Hunter received the diagnosis.
Hunter made a brief visit to the Yankees' training base in Tampa, Fla., last spring. He was barely able to shake hands with old teammates.
"I'm doing all right," he said at
the time. "It's just my hands and arms, don't work right."
He said he thought of his three children, Todd, then 28, Kim, 25, and Paul. 18. He also thought of a 3-year-old grandson, Taylor.
"I'd like to see them grow up," he said.
Old friends were shocked when they saw him. His arms hung limp at his side. His hands seemed soft and puffy, a far cry from the powerful hands of the pitcher and farmer he had been.
The Kansas City Athletics found Hunter in Hertford, N.C., and owner Charles O. Finley, intent on promoting his players to the hilt, pinned the nickname "Catfish" on him. To friends and family, however, he always remained Jim.
Hunter came up with the A's in 1965 and punctuated the team's move to Oakland in 1968 with a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins. At the time, it was just the seventh perfect game in modern baseball history.
A funeral is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Wood Cemetery in Hertford, behind the ballfield where Hunter played high school baseball.
Umpires bad-mouthed in anonymous letter
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The umpires are at it again.
NEW YORK — The umpires are at it again. Members of the group trying to oust union leader Richie Phillips have received an anonymous letter, accusing each of them of being "a cowardly, selfish scab."
"How could you jump out of the foxhole in the midst of battle and desert your friends for your own selfishness?" said the letter, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
The handwritten letter, postmarked in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 31, was received by about 25 umpires who oppose the union leadership, one member of the anti-Phillips faction said, speaking on the condition he not be identified.
Phillips engineered the failed strategy of mass resignations, which cost 22 umpires their jobs Sept. 2. Phillips' supporters in the union say the resignation strategy would have been successful had they all stuck with the plan.
"Remember, you abandoned the ship! You sunk the ship!" said the letter, which contained misspellings and had several words
underlined for emphasis. "Now you have to look at yourself in the mirror every day forever and see the reflection of a cowardly, self-scab! You can change. You can return your allegiance to where it belongs!"
AL president Gene Budig,
a former University of
Kansas chancellor, and NL
president Len Coleman on
July 29 warned umpires
against making threats or
attempting to intimidate
their colleagues.
"It's a pretty gutless person that would write something and send out letters and not put their signature to it," said John Hirschbeck, one of the three AL umpires leading the anti-Phillips faction. "I've never not signed a letter in my life. I would assume it's from a current umpire or one of the 22." he said.
Phillips announced July 14 that more than 50 umpires were resigning en masse, effective Sept. 2, with umpires saying they wanted to prod baseball into an early start of negotiations for a labor contract to replace the one
that expires Dec. 31.
The strategy backfired when more than two dozen umpires — nearly all in the American League — either refused to resign or quickly will refuse their resignations.
didn't reassign their resign-
Baseball then hired 25 umpires from the minor leagues and accepted the resignations of 22 veterans. Umpires sued to stop baseball from letting the 22 go, and in a deal worked out last week in federal court, the matter will go to arbitration.
The anti-Phillips faction also is led by Joe Brinkman and Davey Phillips. Working with agent Ron Shapiro, who has been advising them, the group drafted a response to the anonymous letter and was in the process Wednesday of sending it out to all umpires.
"We will not have trouble looking at ourselves in the mirror," the group said. "As for the cowlly comment, we have and will continue to stand tall when it comes to our decisions."
Groceries the way it should be.
Red Lyon Tavern
A touch of Irish in
downtown Lawrence
944 Mass. 832-8228
Groceries the way it used to be,
For every touchdown the KU football team scores, receive 5% off your purchase at the KU Bookstores on the following Tuesday!
1 TOUCHDOWN = 5% OFF
2 TOUCHDOWNS = 10% OFF
3 TOUCHDOWNS = 15% OFF
4 TOUCHDOWNS = 20% OFF
5 TOUCHDOWNS = 25% OFF
6 TOUCHDOWNS = 30% OFF
7 TOUCHDOWNS = 35% OFF
Friday $1 Bud and Bud Light Bottles $1.50 Margarita's
Saturday
Start off KU Football at Dasko's
$1.50 Bloody Mary's
$1 Screwdrivers
$1 Bud and Bud Light Bottles
Maximum discount of 35% (7 touchdowns). Does not include textbooks, special orders, computers, electronic compact disc, clearance items, or cigarettes.
TAKE A TRIP TO CHICAGO
GRAND OPENING DRINK SPECIALS
1730 W. 23rd
Full Resaurant & Bar
NO COVER CHARGE
Appetizers
Chips & Salsa...$2.75
Chili Cheese Fries...$2.75
Basket of Rings...$2.75
Chili Cheese Nachos...$4.75
Spin Dip...$4.50
Signature Salads
Saturday All Day & Night $2 Chicago Dogs & Fries
Dressings include: Creamy Caesar, Italiano, Ranch, Parmesan Peppercorn, Blue Cheese, Honey Mustard, and Raspberry Vinaigrette
The Dasko House Special...$4.50
A mix of baby greens, seasonal fresh fruit, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, and caramelized auto served with raspberry vinaigrette dressing
Small Dasko House Salad Available...$2.75
Chicken Caesar...$5.75
Sliced grilled chicken breast served stop a bed of fresh romaine with Parmesan cheese, homemade creoutons, and a creamy Caesar dressing
Small Caesar Side w/o Chicken Available for $2.50
Honey Glazed Chicken...$5.75
Spinach greens topped with honey-glazed chicken breast, fresh strawberries, mandarin oranges, sliced red onions, and carmelized auts
The Big Salad...$5.75
Baby greens, chicken breast, avocado, blue cheese crumbler, bacon, tomato, egg and latteau with your choice of dressing
Desserts
Please ask your server for today's selection
Potato Salad...$1.00
Pickle Spear...$0.50
Potato Salad...$1.00
Drinks
Coco Cake, Diet Coke, Mr. Pikin, Sprite, Lemonade & Cherry Lemonade ... $1.00
Iced Tea & Coffee ... $1.00
Root Beer, Cream Soda & Orange Soda by the bottle ... $1.50
Friday
7pm-10pm
Dasko Burger & Fries $2.50
Free Chips & Salsa w/ any purchase
GRAND OPENING FOOD SPECIALS
SANDWICHES
All Sandwiches are served with french fries or potato salad.
Substitute cheese fries or onion rings for $1.00
All Beef & Sausage Sandwiches Are Served Wet or Dry, w/ Hot or Sweet Peppers
Italian Beef Sandwich...$4.50
Your own recipe of a Chicago-style. Thinly sliced Italian seasoned
Beef sautéed with your choice of milk or hot peppers on a fresh baguette.
Add more zucchini for $0.50
Italian Sausage Sandwich...$4.25
Italian sausage link guiltified to perfection and served on a toasted baguette with your choice of sweet and hot peppers.
Add mozzarella or her homemade red sauce for free.
The Veggie...$3.75
Lattuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, cucumber tilies, mazzerolle &
hadden cheese served on a faby croissant.
*Carl's Blue Bomber* ...$5.50
Chicken breast marinated in hot wing sauce corroded on a baguette with
Candied blue cheese crumbles, lettuce, & mazarella cheese.
**Italian Grinder** $\cdot$ $4.25$
Salami, Provolone Chiese, Pattini, Ball Papperi, Lettuce,
Tamales, Onions, Papavernali Poppera & Italian Dressing
warm worm in a baguette.
*Chicken Parmesan*...$5.25
*Our cari marinated chichen honeys served with our homemade red*
*nausea and topped with a slice of marmurita*
Burgers & Hot Dogs
Beef & Sausage Combo...$5.50
Get the best of both w foods with this Chicago Weave. we take
a 50% larger cell and fill it with both Italian Beef & Sauce.
Char-Broiled Chicken...$5.25
Our matinated chicken breast served on a bus with moccairle cheese, lettuce, tomato & honey melted.
Osaka Burger ...$4.90
Our hamhams are hand made with our own special spices. Everything included: piller, grilled anise, lettuce, and tomato.
Beacon Cheddar Burger ...$4.75
Just like it smelt this Turtle burger ames with cheddar cheese & sugar cooked beans. Add any veggies you want for free.
Chili Cheese Burger ...$5.50
Our homemade hamburger covered with chili, cheddar cheese, and dried anise.
Southside Chicken Philly...$5.75
Dish dress chicken breaded on w/ onions / and sweet potatoes, on a baguette or marmalate cheese & red sauce
Italian Meatball Sandwich...$4.75
Tender hamneau, hand rolled meatballs made from sarchic,
soured on a baguette covered with red sauce and marmalate.
Pastrami & Mozzarella...$4.25
Pastrami, Mozzarella Cheese, tomatoes & onions served warm in a baguette with Italian dressing
Chicago Dog ... $3.25
All beef hot dog. With everything included; Relish, freshly change
oilens, acumber, tomatoes, pickle, colorful salt and pepper sauce.
Chi Chole Dog ... $3.75
Our 100% beef dog covered in our house shrimp, dried onions, &
melted chickpea cheese.
had died soon.
had my veggies.
mVC Dog...$3.25
All beaf dog covered with sweatshirt. Free to feel
to
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