Catfish in the Chords: A Baseball Myth in Dylan’s Voice.

In the vast catalog of Bob Dylan’s music, there are many songs that shimmer just below the surface—unreleased or underappreciated gems that die-hard fans treasure. Among them, “Catfish” stands out: a bluesy, swaggering ode to the legendary baseball pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter, co-written with Jacques Levy during Dylan’s Desire sessions in 1975. Though never included on a studio album at the time, the song captures Dylan’s deep connection to American icons and storytelling tradition.

Catfish Hunter wasn’t just a star athlete—he was a symbol of cool control and small-town grit. The first pitcher to sign a free agent contract in Major League Baseball history, Hunter represented a turning point in the game, blending Southern modesty with Yankee spotlight swagger.

Dylan’s lyrics celebrate Hunter as a sort of folk hero. With lines like:

“Catfish, million-dollar-man,
  Nobody can throw the ball like Catfish can…”

Here is my humble take on the song…

Dylan elevates the pitcher into myth. It’s part biography, part blues anthem, part playful boast—the kind of track that only Dylan could write.

Catfish may not top the charts of Dylan’s most-streamed songs, but it lives on as a cult favorite—a slice of Americana where baseball and blues collide. For fans of Dylan, sports, or American myth-making, it’s a rare and rewarding listen.

Like its namesake, the song slides smoothly but strikes hard when it needs to.

By the way, have you seen the Dylan biopic? It is fantastic… (click here for more).