R.I.P. Don Sutton

[T.G.]

Don Sutton has passed away.

 

On June 18, 1986, Angels pitcher Don Sutton became the 19th member of the 300-win club. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

 

[Chuck]

Rest in Peace, Don. 

Prayers and condolences to the entire Sutton family. 

 

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

RIP Don!

[Erstad Grit]

As an Angel fan when I was a kid I didn't even know he was previously a Dodger. To me he was always an Angel. 

[Redondo]

RIP Don

[ten ocho recon scout]

Weird, random memory. I remember driving to my grandparents house when I was a kid, w my dad listening to his no hitter (i think) on the radio. For whatever odd reason, I distinctly remember getting on the 5 transition from the 91 and my dad explaining what was happening.

I was like 1 or some other stupid young kid age. And i cant remember what I did this morning.

[Mark PT]

RIP Don

[Revad]

Ok if one of the other pitchers threw at your guy you wouldn’t have to discuss it with this guy, it would be done.

[Stradling]

I remember playing baseball with Loara and in a pre-season game we faced Villa Park High School.  Darron Sutton was on the mound and he was so much better than me.  I was able to get a single to RF against him, probably my biggest accomplishment on a high school baseball field, haha.  After the game I noticed that Don was there.  He was driving his little white Mercedes with a license plate that read something like Mr. 300.  

[ten ocho recon scout]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I remember playing baseball with Loara and in a pre-season game we faced Villa Park High School.  Darron Sutton was on the mound and he was so much better than me.  I was able to get a single to RF against him, probably my biggest accomplishment on a high school baseball field, haha.  After the game I noticed that Don was there.  He was driving his little white Mercedes with a license plate that read something like Mr. 300.  

Just reminded me. The story i told above wasnt a no hitter, it was his 300th win. Duh.

And i still dont remember what i did this morning

[Tank]

4 minutes ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Just reminded me. The story i told above wasnt a no hitter, it was his 300th win. Duh.

And i still dont remember what i did this morning

the night he won his 300th game i was driving up to begin a summer job at camp. lost reception as i got into the mountains and didn't know for a few days if he won it or not.

[Angel Oracle]

R.I.P. Mr. 300.

[eligrba4ever]

Rest in peace, Don Sutton. You bridged SoCal's Great Divide, among many other achievements. HOF, 300 Club. Rings.

[Chuck]

From our Greatest Moments in Angels Baseball feature coming in at #38.

#38 - Trio of Hall of Fame moments

Sept. 17, 1984: Reggie hits No. 500
Aug. 4, 1985: Carew collects No. 3,000
June 18, 1986: Sutton wins No. 300

For three consecutive seasons, one each year, Angels fans were treated to a player reaching a Hall of Fame milestone while wearing an Angels uniform. More impressively, each accomplished the feat at Anaheim Stadium.

First up was Reggie Jackson. The self-proclaimed “straw that stirs the drink” arrived in Anaheim two years earlier, signing as a free agent and bringing with him 425 home runs in 14 previous seasons.

Jackson immediately delivered to his billing, whopping 39 home runs in 1982 and helping the Angels clinch their second division title. Jackson slumped badly in 1983, batting .194 and hitting only 14 home runs. But he was now just 22 home runs shy of 500.

In the waning days of the 1984 season, with the Angels in a pennant chase with the Twins and Royals, Jackson’s pursuit of No. 500 gave the season some additional drama. In the seventh inning of a foggy Monday night game against the Royals, with the Angels trailing, 7-0, Jackson connected, driving Bud Black’s first pitch deep over the right field fence. (It was one of only three hits Black would allow the Angels on the night.)

“My first thought was, ‘That’s it,’ ” Jackson told reporters after the game. “My second was, I wish we could be winning. I wished it could’ve been a seven-run homer to tie the score.”

The home run came 17 years to the day that Jackson hit his first homer, as a member of the Kansas City Athletics against the Angels at Anaheim Stadium in 1967.

Jackson would hit 123 of his 563 career homers for the Angels, none more memorable than this one.

The following August, Rod Carew was also chasing baseball immortality. A seven-time batting champion in 12 seasons with the Twins, Carew came to the Angels in 1979 with 2,085 hits.

Though he was never a great run producer for the Angels as he had been with the Twins, Carew could still bat .300 in his sleep and his .339 average in 1983 was a team record that held up for 17 years.

As the 1985 season, and his career, wound down, Carew landed himself in the exclusive 3,000-hit club. With his patented slap swing, Carew lined No. 3,000 to left field off Minnesota Twins lefty Frank Viola. Most Angels fans can vividly recall the image of Carew reaching up to secure his helmet as he trotted to first base under a bright Sunday afternoon sky.

“He threw me a tough pitch (a slider down and away),” Carew said. “If I hadn’t stayed with that pitch and taken it, I would have been called out on a third strike. Fortunately, I was able to get the bat on the ball and place it in left field.”

Carew retired following the 1985 season with 3,053 hits. His .314 average with the Angels is second only to Vladimir Guerrero’s .327.

And finally, Don Sutton, in the midst of his 21st Major League season, was closing in on his own place in baseball history.

Acquired during the Angels ultimately fruitless stretch run in 1985, Sutton came to Anaheim having already won 293 games. He won two more in 1985 and entered the 1986 season five shy of the milestone.

On a Wednesday night against the visiting Texas Rangers, sitting on 299 victories, Sutton pitched like a man half his age. Through six innings, he’d allowed only one hit and carried a three-hitter (one run) into the ninth.

More than 37,000 fans climbed to their feet as Sutton took the mound for the ninth inning. He quickly retired Scott Fletcher and Oddibe McDowell on flyouts. In a fitting finale, Sutton struck out Gary Ward to end it. Sutton had pitched a complete game, three-hitter to win his 300th game.

“It’s remarkable how time after time it’s been proven how special people do special things,” manager Gene Mauch said. “I imagine that Don is proud that No. 300 was this kind of game rather than just another win.”

Sutton won 15 games in 1986 and 11 in 1987 before finishing his career back with the Dodgers in 1988, retiring with 324 victories.

Carew was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1991, his first year of eligibility. Jackson was enshrined in 1993, also his first eligible year, and Sutton in 1998. And though none of these players went in representing the Angels, their milestone moments will forever be part of Angels lore.

 

[daygloman]

RIP.

[Jason]

4 hours ago, T.G. said:

Don Sutton has passed away.

On June 18, 1986, Angels pitcher Don Sutton became the 19th member of the 300-win club. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

 

Going in your sleep is the way to go. RIP

[JAHV76]

RIP the guy was a passionate pitcher.

[Slegnaac]

RIP Don

[Blarg]

I always had the feeling the character Eddie Harris from Major Leagues was based on Don Sutton in his final years.

 

[disarcina]

won his 300th game in an Angels uniform.

was the young kid in that great Dodgers rotation with Koufax, Drysdale and Osteen.

ironically had his best pitching statistical year pitching for Houston.

Was traded by Houston to Milwaukee in a trade deadline deal and was instrumental in getting Milwaukee to the playoffs - I'm thinking 1986?

wound up his final season back with the Dodgers but retired about mid-season.

Was a longtime broadcaster with the Atlanta Braves - back when TBS carried every Braves game live on TV. He was a good broadcaster. Of course, his son, Daron, was our Halos broadcaster for a short stint (he left for the Milwaukee TV gig).

[Tank]

in his 23 years, he never missed a start. 

ever.

[Slegnaac]

1 hour ago, disarcina said:

won his 300th game in an Angels uniform.

was the young kid in that great Dodgers rotation with Koufax, Drysdale and Osteen.

ironically had his best pitching statistical year pitching for Houston.

Was traded by Houston to Milwaukee in a trade deadline deal and was instrumental in getting Milwaukee to the playoffs - I'm thinking 1986?

wound up his final season back with the Dodgers but retired about mid-season.

Was a longtime broadcaster with the Atlanta Braves - back when TBS carried every Braves game live on TV. He was a good broadcaster. Of course, his son, Daron, was our Halos broadcaster for a short stint (he left for the Milwaukee TV gig).

Don was part of the '82 Brewers team that knocked the Angels out of the playoffs. He was the winning pitcher in the 3rd game of the series.

[jsnpritchett]

3 hours ago, Blarg said:

I always had the feeling the character Eddie Harris from Major Leagues was based on Don Sutton in his final years.

 

Gaylord Perry.

[disarcina]

18 hours ago, Slegnaac said:

Don was part of the '82 Brewers team that knocked the Angels out of the playoffs. He was the winning pitcher in the 3rd game of the series.

correct -- knew he was a key part of a Milwaukee playoff run but couldn't remember which year.