One of the most durable pitchers in modern history, Sutton is the Dodgers’ all-time leader in wins, games started, innings pitched and strikeouts. He spent two-plus seasons with the Angels la…
The most durable link in the long chain of Dodger pitching greats has died. The winningest pitcher in Dodgers history who went on to a long broadcasting career, Don Sutton died at age 75 on Tuesday morning at his home in Rancho Mirage after a long battle with cancer. Sutton’s son, Daron (a former member of the broadcast crews for the Angels and Milwaukee Brewers), announced his father’s passing on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon. “Today we lost a great ballplayer, a great broadcaster and, most importantly a great person,” said Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten in statement released by the team. “Don left an indelible mark on the Dodger franchise during his 16 seasons in Los Angeles and many of his records continue to stand to this day. I was privileged to have worked with Don in both Atlanta and Washington, and will always cherish our time spent together.” Don Sutton made his major-league debut with the Dodgers in 1966, starting the third game of the season for the defending World Series champions and going 12-12 with a 2.99 ERA as a 21-year-old. By the time he left the Dodgers as a free agent following the 1980 season, Sutton had won more games (233), made more starts (533), pitched more innings (3,816-1/3) and struck out more batters (2,696) than any other pitcher in franchise history.
