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"Sutter" or Later More Relievers Will Be in The Hall of Fame

by Kelly Huffman and Chris Hansen

(Originally published on 8/12/1998)

Bruce Sutter last strode out to a major league mound in 1988. Then a member of the Atlanta Braves, Sutter had already set his mark on baseball as one of the best relievers of his era.

Sutter Career Highlights

• Pitched 12 years for the Cubs, Cardinals and Braves
• Saved 300 games, ninth highest total in history
• Won the Cy Young in 1979
• Won Fireman of the Year 4 times
• Saved Game 7 of the 1982 World Series
• 45 saves in 1984 ranks as the 4th highest total in NL history
• Appeared in 661 games
• Pitched over 100 innings in five seasons

Now ten years later, Sutter still finds himself on a baseball diamond, this time at Harrison High School in the suburbs of Atlanta. A fan from the other side of the fence, he sees his legacy on a field and in a program that he helped build.

With two sons playing the game, Sutter relishes his role as a father and a guide for his sons.

One son, Chad, catches at Tulane and was named Second Team All-Conference USA.

Ben, his youngest, pitches and plays first base as a senior at Harrison. The 6-2, 225-pounder recently won Game 1 of the Georgia AAAA playoffs, helping lead his team to the state title along with first-round draft pick Corey Patterson.

Relievers in the Hall

Hoyt Wilhelm, Elected 1985 The knuckle-baller won 143 games (a record 124 from thebullpen) and amassed 227 saves. Although a reliver for the Orioles, on September 20, 1958, he no-hit the Yankees. (143-122, 1070 G (most ever), 2254 IP, 1757 H, 1610 K, 2.52 ERA)

Rollie Fingers, Elected 1992 Used his sinking fastball to become, at one time, the all-time major league saves leader with 341. He appeared in 16 World Series games for Oakland, winning two and saving six. He was the A.L. MVP and Cy Young Awardee with the Brewers in 1981. (114-118, 944 G, 1701 IP, 1474 H, 1299 K, 2.90 ERA)

The former major league reliever says he harbors no regrets about his twelve-season big league career or about throwing his signature "splitter." Despite injuries that cost him all of 1987, Sutter replies, "That's just pitching. You use your body so much, wear and tear takes its toll. I was lucky to be able to pitch until I was 33."

Already proud of his career, there's one more accomplishment Sutter would love to attain - election into the Baseball the Hall of Fame.

Only two relievers possess plaques hanging from those hallowed halls, Rollie Fingers and Hoyt Wilhelm. They were inducted only within the past 15 years.

Even with such few relief representatives in the Hall, Sutter does not think his status as a reliever hurts his chances. He is just happy to have received enough votes on the past ballot to be included on the next one.

Sutter remains the lone reliever still on the ballot, but he soon should get some company. With relievers such as Jeff Reardon and Goose Gossage retired and Dennis Eckersley and Lee Smith not far away, relievers will populate upcoming ballots.

This added attention on the ballots stems from the recent emphasis and importance on the role of the reliever. Considering a team's bullpen as a crucial element of their success and a more valued component of a good team is truly a recent phenomenon. Not until recently have players actually been coached to fill the set-up or closer's role on a ballclub, but the trend is continuing and can make or break a team. (How about those Mariners this season? Lou Pinella gets standing ovations when he leaves a starter in!)

Just look at names now in the majors: The Dodgers' Darren Driefort thrived as a reliever in his college days at Wichita State, and Brad Woodall who shined as a closer at the University of North Carolina now takes the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers.

USC senior closer Jack Krawczyk also looks to play for the Brewers. On the Division I Champion USC team, he recorded the final five outs of the final game in the College World Series and setting NCAA records with his 23rd save of the season and 49th of his career.

Did you know ...

The Braves' clubhouse is as plush as their two-year old ballpark, Turner Field. Along with lockers and showers, it comes complete with a putting green designed with the Augusta back-nine as a backdrop. This luxury provides Braves' players, such as Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, to practice thier puts to prepare for the numerous charity golf functions in which they participate...The Phillies have an organization called Phillies Charities, Inc. especially devoted to helping their community. Some players and organizations that are involved include "Curt's Pitch for ALS" with Curt and Shonda Schilling and "Lieby's VIPs"with 20 tickets for every game provided by Mike Lieberthal for children with cancer and their families.

Teams are realizing the value of attaining a good relief man on their staff.

Possibly, this notion can be attributed to the lack of consistent starting pitching in today's game. Even Dreifort and Woodall are now filling starting roles for their clubs, taking them out of their practiced role of reliever. Sutter believes these types of moves can occur because today's pitchers are aiming for a radar gun and not really learning "how to pitch." He thinks, at the major league level, guys can hit a fastball - there is more to the art of pitching than just throwing hard. This puts even more of a strain on finding and maintaining starters on a staff, and diminishes those left to choose from when filling a bullpen.

Ultimately, there is more to a reliever than meets the eye as they retain one of the most pressure-filled jobs in existence. Managers call upon these guys to pick up the pieces, to shut down the rally, to get the starter and his team a win. Are they under appreciated? The next few years will show how many reliever's plaques hang in Cooperstown.