Bruce Sutter
| Birthdate | 1/8/1953 |
| Death Date | 10/13/2022 |
| Debut Year | 1976 |
| Year of Induction | 2006 |
| Teams | Braves, Cardinals, Cubs |
| Position | Pitcher |
A six-time All Star, Bruce Sutter led the NL in saves five times. The 1979 Cy Young Award winner was inducted in 2006, his 13th year of eligibility.
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Bruce Sutter made the All Star team in five of his first six seasons
Bruce Sutter made the All Star team in five of his first six seasons
Bruce Sutter got his big league start in 1976 with the Chicago Cubs. In his first year the 23-year old made 52 appearances – all in relief – and posted a 6-3 record with 10 saves and a 2.70 ERA.
During his five years pitching on the north side of Chicago, Sutter recorded a 32-30 record with 222 saves and a 2.39 earned run average.
In December of 1980 the Cubs traded Sutter to St. Louis for Leon Durham, Ken Reitz, and a player to be named later.
Sutter’s first season with the Redbirds was the third of four consecutive seasons in which he led the NL in saves.
His finest year came in his final All Star campaign of 1984. That season Sutter led the league with career-best numbers in games finished (63), and saves (45). His ERA was a sparkling 1.54. For his efforts, Sutter placed 3rd in Cy Young Award balloting and 6th in the MVP race.
He retired after pitching for Chuck Tanner’s Braves in 1988. Sutter finished his career third on the all-time saves list with 300.
The reliever received his Hall of Fame plaque in 2006 after 13 years on the ballot.
Shown here is an autographed baseball card from the 1977 Topps set featuring a young Sutter in the Cubs uniform.
In 1979 Sutter became the third reliever to earn the Cy Young Award
In 1979 Sutter became the third reliever to earn the Cy Young Award
Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter won the Cy Young Award in 1979, his fourth year in the big leagues. By doing so he became the third reliever to earn the honor, following Mike Marshall (1974) and Sparky Lyle (1977).
In 1982 Sutter recorded his 192nd save to break Roy Face’s NL mark. When he retired in 1988, Sutter had exactly 300 saves. At that time only Rollie Fingers (341) and Goose Gossage (302) had more. Sutter held the NL career mark until Lee Smith broke it in 1993.
Bruce Sutter was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
On vintage Chicago Cubs letterhead Sutter has taken the entire page for his autograph and the inscription, “Chicago Cubs 1979 Cy Young Award 37 Saves”.
