Bruce Sutter

Date of Birth: January 8, 1953

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: October 13, 2022

Biography

Bruce Sutter was a prominent American professional baseball player, widely regarded for revolutionizing the role of the relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on January 8, 1953, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Sutter’s career spanned from 1976 to 1988. He was one of the foremost practitioners of the split-finger fastball, a pitch that significantly contributed to his success. Sutter played for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves. His most notable achievement came in 1979 when he won the National League Cy Young Award. He was also a six-time All-Star and played a crucial role in the Cardinals’ 1982 World Series victory. After retiring from playing, Sutter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away on October 13, 2022.

5 Interesting Facts about Bruce Sutter

1. Bruce Sutter was one of the first pitchers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame without ever starting a game.

2. He accumulated 300 career saves, making him one of the top closers in MLB history at the time of his retirement.

3. Sutter’s split-finger fastball was taught to him by Fred Martin, a minor league pitching instructor.

4. He played a key role in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 1982 World Series championship, closing out Game 7.

5. Sutter was the fourth relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bruce Sutter

1. “The split-finger fastball is the best pitch in baseball. It’s the only pitch in baseball that you don’t have to throw for a strike to get a strike.”

2. “I didn’t want to be a starter. I liked the pressure of coming into a game with men on base and getting out of it.”

3. “It’s not often you get to change the way the game is played. I was lucky to have that opportunity.”

4. “Baseball has been good to me, and I hope I’ve been good to baseball.”

5. “Every time I took the mound, I wanted to prove I belonged there.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Bruce Sutter’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Bruce Sutter had three sons: Josh, Chad, and Ben. Chad Sutter followed in his father’s footsteps to some extent, playing minor league baseball and later becoming a collegiate coach.