Bruce Sutter, baseball player, 1976-1988

Bruce Sutter

⭐ Hall of Fame 2006

Born: 1/8/1953 in Lancaster, PA, USA

Died: 10/13/2022 in Cartersville, GA, USA

MLB Debut: 1976-05-09 | Final Game: 1988-09-09

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Howard Bruce Sutter

Biography

Bruce Sutter, born in 1953, was a prominent pitcher whose career spanned from 1976 until his retirement in 1988. He was known for his exceptional skill as a closer, a role that gained prominence in Major League Baseball during the late 1970s and 1980s. Sutter's career record stood at 68-71, with a remarkable earned run average (ERA) of 2.83, highlighting his effectiveness on the mound. He accumulated 861 strikeouts and recorded 300 saves, establishing himself as one of the premier relief pitchers of his time. Sutter's contributions to the game were recognized with numerous accolades, including a Cy Young Award and six All-Star selections. His induction into the Hall of Fame in 2006 solidified his legacy as one of baseball's greats. He was particularly noted for his devastating split-finger fastball, which revolutionized the way pitchers approached the game during his era. Sutter's impact on the sport extended beyond his statistics; he played a crucial role in popularizing the closer position and set a standard for future generations of relief pitchers.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
68 71 661 0 0 0 300 1042.0 879 328 77 309 861 2.83 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
661 102 6 9 0 0 0 6 1 7 50 0.088 0.153 0.088 0.241 0.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1982 NLCS SLN 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000
1982 WS SLN 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
2 0 6 0 3 12.0 6 4 3 7 3.00

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1982 NLCS SLN 1 0 2 0 1 4.3 0 0 0 1 0.00
1982 WS SLN 1 0 4 0 2 7.7 6 4 3 6 4.70

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 661 0 90 145 9 9

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 661

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1990 ATL NL $1,729,167
1989 ATL NL $1,729,167
1988 ATL NL $1,729,167
1987 ATL NL $1,729,167
1986 ATL NL $1,729,167
1985 ATL NL $1,354,167
Total Career Earnings $10,000,002

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1984 Cy Young Award NL 3rd 33.0 120 0
1984 Most Valuable Player NL 6th 67.0 336 0
1982 Cy Young Award NL 3rd 25.0 120 2
1982 Most Valuable Player NL 5th 134.0 336 2
1981 Cy Young Award NL 5th 1.0 120 0
1981 Most Valuable Player NL 8th 59.0 336 0
1979 Cy Young Award NL 1st 72.0 120 10
1979 Most Valuable Player NL 7th 69.0 336 0
1978 Most Valuable Player NL 20th 5.0 336 0
1977 Cy Young Award NL 6th 5.0 120 0
1977 Most Valuable Player NL 7th 68.0 336 0