THE YANKEES OFFICIALLY SIGNED CATFISH TODAY

I am a huge fan of Marty Appel.  He was the Yankees Public Relations Director from 1973  to 1977 and saw some of the biggest Yankee names ever, starting out in the organization going through Mickey Mantle's mail years before.  You can read all about it in YANKEE STORIES REVEALED BY PR GIANT MARTY APPEL. It's an eye opening interview.

Anyway, on this day 39 years ago, the Yankees officially signed Catfish Hunter.  No better person to remind of us about it than Marty Appel... that's because he was there.  Today he posted this great shot of the event, he on the left, and Catfish Hunter front and center.  Next to it, Marty wrote this caption:

"Happy New Year, Manigon Bagong Taon, and a Yankee photo from 39 New Years Eves ago with Jim 'Catfish' Hunter. No more $12,000 infielders, no more $3.50 box seats. But we love the game."

If you wanted more information, he expanded.  For instance, someone asked him who the guy in the checkered blazer was.   

"That's Ed Greenwald, a lawyer and ltd. partner of the Yankees who flew on the private jet from North Carolina and wrote out the contract Hunter signed. The press conference, in this photo, was in the group sales office at the Parks Administration Building in Flushing Meadow Park, where we had our offices, across the street from Shea Stadium. Had been World's Fair headquarters in the '60s."

Alittle history, huh? Marty Appel has more stories about the Yankees than anyone, and I'm thrilled to know him.

Marty, thanks for letting us borrow this picture... Happy New Year sir.

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