RIP Don Sutton

One of my first favorite Dodgers who I mimicked often while pitching in the front yard.

 

Consistency counts

 

Smart-aleck, but hated Garvey (they fought), which made it fun in the clubhouse. In '81, my rookie year on the Dodgers beat, he had signed with the Astros. That was the Dodgers' first road game that spring.
Me: "Hi, Don. I'm Chris Long from the Podunk World Report."
Him: "Congratulations."

 

Downing, John, Osteen, Singer and Sutton. Makes me feel that much older today. RIP.

Side note: The 1972 Dodgers had Hoyt Wilhelm, whose career started in 1952, and Charlie Hough, whose career ended in 1994, in the same bullpen.

 

Lyle Spencer put on Facebook that he wrote a story which said Reggie Smith was the Dodgers best player, the heart and soul of the team. Sutton was quoted in the story. Garvey didn't like it. Bob Welch told Lyle that they were waiting for Lyle to leave the clubhouse (Shea Stadium) before they got into it.

Lyle also revealed that he didn't write about Sutton crying when Glenn Burke was released. He didn't want to embarrass Sutton, who was a Southerner from Alabama, who was crying over the release of a gay, black player. Quite touching.

 

More than 18% of the electorate declined to vote for Sutton in 1988. He won 324 games. That just seems like an absurd combination today.

 

A 21-Skip Caray voice salute.

 

My wife liked basketball, not baseball, growing up. The first time Sutton didn't make it, she didn't understand why I was upset, so I tossed her the Baseball Encyclopedia (remember that?) opened to the page on all-time records and pointed to "wins by pitcher." Her reaction was, "he's not in? What? Was his hobby fucking sportswriters' wives?"

 

Even given my allegiances I respected Sutton greatly and am saddened to hear of his passing today. He was sooooo meticulous in his delivery, actually the forerunner (or model) to today's pitchers really.

 

Even as a Dodgers fan, I've thought of Sutton as a compiler who shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame. He was never great, never dominant, just always very good.

But looking at his stats (I know), he is among the all-time leaders in many categories.

I worked with Don's widow as an usher at Dodger Stadium in the early to mid 80s and the story of their daughter, who was born four months premature, is heartwarming in that she fought and survived.

When Fame Takes a Back Seat - The New York Times (nytimes.com)