Howard Bruce Sutter (born January 8, 1953 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) was among baseball's dominant relievers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A right-hander credited with perfecting the modern-day the split-finger fastball, he became the only pitcher to lead the National League in saves five times (1979-1982, 1984), and retired with 300 saves - at the time, the third highest total in history.

In 1979, Sutter won the NL's Cy Young Award as the league's top pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2006.

Sutter was a member of three different teams during his career from 1976 to 1988. After being selected by the Washington Senators in the 21st round of the June 1970 draft, Sutter instead attended Old Dominion University, and later signed with the Cubs as a free agent in September 1971. He spent slightly over four seasons in the Cubs' farm system, and played on the 1975 Texas League (AA) champion Midland Cubs. He joined the Chicago Cubs in May 1976, and after five seasons was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in December 1980, and then joined the Atlanta Braves in December 1984 as a free agent.

In 1979, Sutter saved 37 games for the Cubs, tying the NL record held by Clay Carroll (1972) and Rollie Fingers (1978). In addition to the Cy Young Award, Sutter also won both the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and The Sporting News Fireman of the Year Award in 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1984. He was a member of the Cardinals team which won the 1982 World Series and is credited with two saves in that Series, including the Series-clinching save in Game 7 which ended with a strikeout of Gorman Thomas and a leaping hug by catcher World Series MVP Darrell Porter; Sutter also earned the save in the pennant-clinching victory in the NLCS.

In 1984, he tied Dan Quisenberry's major league record, set the previous year, for most saves in a season (45), a record broken by Dave Righetti (46) in 1986; Sutter's NL record was broken by Lee Smith (47) in 1991.

Sutter was named to the NL's All-Star team six times (1977-1981, 1984), appearing in the games of 1978 through 1981. He played a major role in all four contests, earning the win in 1978 and 1979, and saves in 1980 and 1981.

On September 8, 1977, Sutter struck out three batters on nine pitches - Ellis Valentine, Gary Carter and Larry Parrish - in the ninth inning of a 10-inning 3-2 win over the Montreal Expos. Sutter became the 12th National League pitcher and the 19th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning. Sutter had also struck out the side (though not on nine pitches) upon entering the game in the eighth inning, giving him six consecutive strikeouts, tying the NL record for a reliever.

He was momentarily the highest paid player in baseball, although he agreed to have his Atlanta contract configured so that he was paid $750,000 for six years with the rest going into an insurance fund that was to be structured to pay him $1,000,000 for 30 years.

On January 10, 2006, Sutter was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his 13th year of eligibility by receiving 400 votes out of a possible 520, or 76.9%. He is the first pitcher ever elected who never started a game, and with 1042 1/3 career innings pitched is the first to end his career with fewer than 1700. Sutter's Hall of Fame plaque depicts him wearing a Cardinals cap and his trademark beard[1].

Sutter's number 42, which he wore throughout his career, was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals during a ceremony at Busch Stadium on September 17, 2006. He shares his retired number with Jackie Robinson, whose number 42 had previously been retired by "all" Major League teams in 1997.

Achievements and Honors

• 6-time NL All-Star (1977-1981 & 1984)
• NL Cy Young Award Winner (1979)
• 4-time NL Rolaids Relief Award Winner (1979, 1981, 1982 & 1984)
• 5-time NL Saves Leader (1979-1982 & 1984)
• 30 Saves Seasons: 4 (1977, 1979, 1982 & 1984)
• 40 Saves Seasons: 1 (1984)
• Won a World Series Ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 2006

Career Statistics

Contact Information

Direct emails for Howard Bruce Sutter to: bsutter@hofmag.com