Don Sutton (1998)


Date of Birth: 4/2/1945
Date of Death: 1/19/2021
Birthplace: Clio, Alabama
College: Mississippi College, USC, Whittier College

Before being signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in September, 1964, Don Sutton played baseball in college. He spent only one year in the minor leagues before joining the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers

In 1966, Sutton's first year in the major leagues, he had a 12-12 record with 209 strikeouts to 52 walks and a 2.99 ERA in 225.2 innings in 37 games. His performance that season earned him the Sporting News Rookie of the Year award.

Sutton pitched in 37 games with the Dodgers in 1968. He had 11 wins and 15 losses, 169 strikeouts to 57 walks, and a 3.95 ERA in 232.2 innings in 37 games. He had similar numbers in 1968, finishing that season with again 11 wins and 15 losses and 162 strikeouts to 59 walks in 207.2 innings in 35 games. His ERA improved to 2.60.

In 1969, Sutton had career highs in games played (41), innings pitched (293.1), and strikeouts (217 to 91 walks). He had 17 wins and 18 losses and a 3.47 ERA. The following year, his ERA jumped up to 4.08. He finished the 1970 season with 15 wins and 13 losses and 201 strikeouts to 78 walks in 260.1 innings in 38 games. He had a much better season in 1971, when he finished with 17 wins and 12 losses, 194 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 2.54 ERA in 265.1 innings in 38 games.

Sutton had a career low ERA of 2.08 in 1972. That season he had a 19-9 record and 207 strikeouts to 63 walks in 272.2 innings in 33 games. The next year, he had 18 wins and 10 losses, 200 strikeouts to 56 walks, and a 2.42 ERA in 256.1 innings in 33 games.

Sutton continued to pitch well in 1974 and 1975. He had 19 wins and 9 losses, 179 strikeouts to 80 walks, and a 3.23 ERA in 1974. He had fewer wins but a lower ERA in 1975. He finished that season with 16 wins and 13 losses and a 2.87 ERA in 35 games.

Sutton had a career high 21 wins (to 10 losses) in 1976. He finished with a 3.06 ERA in 267.2 innings in 35 games. He was awarded the Lou Gehrig Memorial award in 1976.

In 1977, Sutton was named the MLB All Star Game MVP. He finished the season with 14 wins and 8 losses, 150 strikeouts to 69 walks, and a 3.18 ERA in 240.1 innings in 33 games. His ERA went up to 3.55 in 1978, when he had 15 wins and 11 losses. It increased even more in 1979, when he finished with a 3.82 ERA in 33 games. He had 12 wins and 15 losses that season.

Sutton had a strong season in 1980, leading the NL in ERA with 2.20. That season he had 13 wins and 5 losses in 32 games.

As a pitcher with the Dodgers, Sutton became the all-time Dodgers leader in wins with 233, games pitched with 550, innings pitched with 3,814, strikeouts with 2,696, and shutouts with 52.

Houston Astros

Sutton left the Dodgers after the 1980 season and he went to the Houston Astros for almost two seasons. In the strike shortened 1981 season, he pitched in 23 games and he had 11 wins and 9 losses and a 2.61 ERA.

After pitching in 27 games with the Astros in 1982, he moved to the Milwaukee Brewers and pitched in 7 games with them. He finished the season with 17 wins and 9 losses, 175 strikeouts to 64 walks, and a 3.06 ERA in 249.2 innings.

Milwaukee Brewers

Sutton struggled in 1983, finishing with a 4.08 ERA. He had an 8-13 record and 134 strikeouts to 54 walks in 220.1 innings in 31 games.

Sutton pitched better in 1984, when he had a 3.77 ERA in 33 games. He had 14 wins and 12 losses that year.

Final Years as a Player

In 1985, Sutton again switched teams, this time going to the Oakland Athletics for most of the season. After 29 games with Oakland, Sutton went to the California Angels to finish the season with five more games. He had a 3.86 ERA and a 15-10 record in 226.0 innings.

Sutton stayed with the Angels through the 1987 season. He had a 3.74 ERA with 15 wins and 11 losses in 34 games in 1986. The following season, his ERA went up to 4.70. He finished the 1987 season with 11 wins and 11 losses in 35 games.

Sutton ended his career with the Dodgers in 1988. Sutton pitched in 16 games in his last season in the major leagues and he finished the year with a 3.92 ERA.

Awards

  • Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial award
  • All Star Game MVP

Career Statistics

Statistics for Sutton in 23 seasons (1966-1988) in the major leagues include:

  • 14 seasons with 150 or more strikeouts, with a high of 217 in 1969
  • 8 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 2.08 in 1972

Career pitching statistics for Sutton include:

  • 774 games played
  • 5,282.1 innings pitched
  • 324-256 win-loss record
  • 3,574 strikeouts to 1,343 walks
  • 3.26 ERA

Postseason statistics for Sutton include:

  • 5 postseasons
  • 15 games played
  • 98.0 innings pitched
  • 6-4 win-loss record
  • 58 strikeouts to 22 walks
  • 3.77 ERA

Post Playing Career

After his career as a major league baseball player ended, Sutton became a broadcaster with TBS and the Atlanta Braves. He held that position from 1989 through 2006. From 2007 to 2009, he was a broadcaster with the MASN network and the Washington Nationals. His most recent position was as a radio broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves.

Sutton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998 on the fifth ballot with 81.6% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Don Sutton
ESPN - Don Sutton
Baseball Reference - Don Sutton

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