Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Bruce Sutter

Chicago Cubs: Not throwing as hard as he once did, Sutter knew his best days were in the rearview mirror.

From the beginning of his 1985 season with Atlanta, it became clear that the 32-year-old Sutter had entered the twilight of his career.

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He struggled immensely and never seemed to sort out his mechanics.  He finished the season with only 23 saves and a 4.48 ERA.  Never able to get on track, the arm problems that he had suffered during his days in the minor leagues, the same that nearly derailed his career before it even began, reared their head again.

Bothered by a nerve impingement in his shoulder, the injury would require surgery, forcing him to miss the beginning of the 1986 season.  Sutter pitched in only 16 games for the Braves, recording a 2-0 record with a 4.34 ERA before re-injuring his arm in May.  He was then shut down for the remainder of the year.

A third shoulder surgery required Sutter to miss the 1987 season in its entirety.

Returning in 1988, he pitched in 38 games, tossing for a 4.34 ERA and earning 14 saves in 45 1/3 innings.  Sutter’s 14th save of the season served as the 300th of his Major League career, as well as his last ever.

By March of 1989, Sutter was dealing with a severally torn rotator cuff and knew that he had most likely pitched in his last game.

The Braves released Sutter in November of ’89.  At the time, he was only 35-years-old.

Sutter, still with guaranteed money left on the table and the Braves needing to clear up room for a rebuild financially, the two parties agreed to a deferred payment with 13 percent interest.

Due to this, just like Bonilla’s deal, which is now a celebrated tongue-in-cheek day and dubbed “Bobby Bonilla Day” every June, Sutter’s restructured deal sees him receive $1.3M annually for 30 years, not ending until 2021.