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The baseball world has lost a Hall of Famer. Longtime starting pitcher Don Sutton passed away in his sleep this week, according to his son. Sutton was 75 years old.
In his 23 year career, Sutton has been a four-time All-Star who finished in Cy Young’s top five by voting five times, finishing third. He won an ERA title in 1980 at 2.20, four times leading his league in WHIP and three times leading in the strikeout ratio. He played primarily for the Dodgers, but also spent time with the Angels, Brewers, Astros and Athletics.
“Today we have lost a great baseball player, a great broadcaster and most importantly a great person,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said in a statement. “Don left an indelible mark on the Dodger franchise over his 16 seasons in Los Angeles and many of his records continue to stand to this day. I have been privileged to have worked with Don in Atlanta and Washington, and I will always treasure our time spent. On behalf of the Dodger organization, we extend our condolences to the entire Sutton family, including Don Mary’s wife, son Daron and daughters Staci and Jacquie. “
A model of durability, Sutton racked up 324 wins (14th all-time), 3,574 strikeouts (seventh all-time) and 5,282 1/3 innings (seventh all-time). He holds the MLB record for 200 seasons with 20 innings. He is tied for fifth with 15 seasons of at least 225 innings. In the first 15 years of his career, all with the Dodgers, Sutton averaged 249 innings per season.
Sutton ranks third all-time in career starts. Here is the ranking:
- Cy Young, 815
- Nolan Ryan, 773
- Don Sutton, 756
He is even ninth in the history of batters faced.
“Throughout his career, Don has represented our game with great class, and his enthusiasm will be remembered by many during his trips to Cooperstown,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a press release. “On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Don’s family, friends and the many fans he has won throughout his memorable life in our national pastime.
Sutton pitched five different playoffs, qualifying for the World Series as a pennant winner with the 1974 Dodgers, 1977 Dodgers, 1978 Dodgers and 1982 Brewers. Win the World Series while still being a player active escaped Sutton, when he was released from the championship-winning Dodgers in August 1988.
Sutton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a player in 1998 on his fifth attempt on the ballot, obtaining 81.6% of the vote.
Sutton also put his mark on the Braves as a broadcaster after his playing career ended. He worked with the team on television and radio for part of 28 years. He is now one of five Braves Hall of Fame presenters.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Don Sutton,” the Braves said in a statement. A generation of Braves fans have come to know his voice, as Don spent 28 seasons broadcasting Braves games after a 23-year career in the Major League Hall-of-Fame with the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers and Angels. Don was as feared on the mound as he was loved in the pit. A 300-game and four-time All-Star winner, Don brought unparalleled knowledge of the game and his sharp wit to his calls. But despite all the success, Don never lost his generous character or humble personality. “
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