Don Sutton, RIP
- Thread starter Booth
- Start date
Many baseball observers who watched Sutton pitch thought he wouldn't make the Hall of Fame because he only won 20 games once while playing at a time when 20 game winners were far more common than they are now, what with five man starting rotations and everything more specialized. But Sutton played for 23 years and won 324 games, being a notable example of a consistent compiler of quality numbers with great endurance. Will never be in anyone's all-time top ten pitchers lists but definitely earned his spot in Cooperstown. I remember him as one of the best pitchers from the 1960s and '70s, when there was a lot of great ones playing. RIP
sport historian
Master
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2004
- Messages
- 2,998
When I think of Don Sutton I always remember a game he pitched against the Atlanta Braves in 1967 that was shown on the Braves TV network. I just looked it up on Baseball Reference. Sutton pitched a complete game, winning 6-1, August 20, 1967.
Charles Martel
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 8,484
Sutton had a long career from the 1960s to the 1980s.
He led the league in ERA in 1980 and was an all star 4 times in the 1970s.
He led the league in ERA in 1980 and was an all star 4 times in the 1970s.
Freethinker
Hall of Famer
Before my time but seemed like a tremendous pitcher. I’ve read that he never missed his turn in the rotation over 23 years?!?! That’s incredible durability and longevity that would be the pitching equivalent of what Cal Ripken Jr or Lou Gehrig did. Now a days, you are lucky if a starter can make it through even 1 season without missing any starts!
RIP Don Sutton
RIP Don Sutton
The Hock
Master
Don Sutton worked his way into the Hall of Fame. He would be on the All Consistency team if there was one. You just can't ignore 326 wins.
Sutton's passing made me think of Don Drysdale, (who my dad disliked for some reason) who made it to the Hall on 209 wins in a 13 year career. Two different types of Hall careers.
Drysdale pitched with a mean streak. He managed to hit 154 batters for a major league record. He also hit 29 homeruns. Twenty nine times a pitcher had to go back to the dugout after giving up a homer to another pitcher. Ha ha.
Two pitchers from my personal baseball golden era.
Sutton's passing made me think of Don Drysdale, (who my dad disliked for some reason) who made it to the Hall on 209 wins in a 13 year career. Two different types of Hall careers.
Drysdale pitched with a mean streak. He managed to hit 154 batters for a major league record. He also hit 29 homeruns. Twenty nine times a pitcher had to go back to the dugout after giving up a homer to another pitcher. Ha ha.
Two pitchers from my personal baseball golden era.
white is right
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Messages
- 10,223
Yes that was Sutton every year he would win his 16 or so games and have his 200 innings pitched and by the time his career was over it was a hall of fame worthy career even though others burned more brightly but had a shelf life that was wasn't anything close to Suttons.
Phil Neikro had a similar career trajectory.
