Don Sutton
| Birthdate | 4/2/1945 |
| Death Date | 1/18/2021 |
| Debut Year | 1966 |
| Year of Induction | 1998 |
| Teams | Angels, Astros, Athletics, Brewers, Dodgers |
| Position | Pitcher |
Don Sutton holds many Dodger franchise marks but recorded his 300th win with the Angels and his 3,000th strikeout with the Brewers.
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Don Sutton broke into a Dodger rotation that boasted Koufax and Drysdale
Don Sutton broke into a Dodger rotation that boasted Koufax and Drysdale
Don Sutton made his major league debut on April 14, 1966, just 12 days after his 21st birthday. That season he pitched alongside Dodger greats Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.
The four-man rotation of ’66 was rounded out by Claude Osteen, a two-time all star and 196-game winner. The quartet started 154 of the Dodgers’ 162 games. Joe Moeller started the other eight.
Sutton won 12 games in his rookie season to begin a run of a dozen straight years with double-digit win totals. The model of consistency, the durable right-hander averaged 33 started per season in his 23-year career that went from 1966-1988.
Though he reached the 20-win mark only once, Sutton tallied 15 or more wins in 12 seasons. He threw 58 shutouts, five one-hitters, and ten two-hitters. Sutton pitched 16 years for the Dodgers, three each for the Angles and Brewers, two for the Astros, and one for the A’s. For his work, Sutton was elected to the Hall in 1998.
In this handwritten letter on Dodger letterhead, Sutton opines about the choice of the cap in his Hall of Fame plaque. The 324-game winner writes, “Jim, Although I played for a few teams, I’m very proud that it’s a Dodger cap in Cooperstown. Don Sutton 8-14-99”.
For Sutton fans August 14th is a highlight. One year to the day before he signed this, Sutton’s #20 was retired in a ceremony at Dodgers Stadium.
Sutton passed Don Drysdale's franchise victory record on May 20, 1979 and still holds the mark
Sutton passed Don Drysdale's franchise victory record on May 20, 1979 and still holds the mark
On May 20, 1979, Don Sutton beat Tom Seaver and the Cincinnati Reds for his 210th career win. The victory broke his tie with Don Drysdale for the top spot in career victories for the Dodger franchise.
Sutton tacked on another 23 wins in Los Angeles to push the Dodger mark to 233. He still holds the record.
After leaving Los Angeles, Sutton pitched for the Astros, Brewers, A’s and Angeles before retiring at age 43. Overall he tallied 324 career victories for his five teams.
In the collection is this check drawn from the Los Angeles Dodgers account. Dated November 13, 1958 their first year since moving from Brooklyn, the check is made out to Drysdale and signed by longtime team executive Fresco Thompson.
To see Drysdale’s endorsement on the back of the check, click here to redirect to Drysdale’s page.
Sutton set the Dodger franchise strikeout record in August of '79 and held it the rest of his life
Sutton set the Dodger franchise strikeout record in August of '79 and held it the rest of his life
Don Sutton remains one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers history. He broke in during the 1966 season and played in Los Angeles until 1980.
On August 5, 1979 he struck out 2,487th batter to break Don Drysdale’s franchise mark. Sutton eventually extended the record to 2,696. Sutton held the franchise’s top spot in whiffs for the rest of his life.
On April 20, 2022, one year after Sutton’s passing Clayton Kershaw broke his strikeout record.
In the collection is the official document from Major League Baseball that Kershaw signed to collect the first of his 8 All Star rings. The 2011 season was a magical one for the Dodger who earned pitching’s Triple Crown with 21 wins, 2.28 ERA, and 248 strikeouts. By season’s end he earned the first of his three Cy Young Awards.
Though Sutton ranks high on the Dodger pitching leaderboard, he played for 4 other teams
Though Sutton ranks high on the Dodger pitching leaderboard, he played for 4 other teams
After 16 seasons in Los Angeles, Don Sutton left the Dodgers as a free agent after the 1980 season. From 1981-1987 he pitched for the Astros, Brewers, A’s and Angels.
Sutton’s final campaign in 1988 was a homecoming back to Los Angeles. Pitching for the eventual World Series champions, Sutton went 3-6 before pitching his final big league game on August 9.
Shown here is a 1983 Topps Super Veteran baseball card signed by 23-year MLB veteran Sutton.
Don Sutton is one of 10 pitchers with at least 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts
Don Sutton is one of 10 pitchers with at least 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts
Baseball loves its milestone. Magic numbers of 300 wins or 3,000 strikeouts virtually guarantees a pitcher’s Hall of Fame induction. Ten big league pitchers have reached both plateaus.
Don Sutton finished his 23-year stay in the majors with 324 victories and 3,574 Ks to join the exclusive two-milestone club. Chronologically, Walter Johnson, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro, Tom Seaver, and Steve Carlton preceded Sutton into the circle. Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, and Randy Johnson joined the group after the Dodger right-hander.
Shown above is a handwritten letter from the Big Train, the charter member of the 300-win/3,000-strikeout club.
Eight years after Johnson’s playing career ended, he was awarded a lifetime pass to all MLB games. The passes were the brainchild of National League president Ford Frick.
Johnson’s letter is to Hall of Fame executive Ford Frick thanking him for the pass.
