Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Bruce Sutter

Chicago Cubs: Rightfully earning his place in Cooperstown, Bruce Sutter is remembered as a baseball pioneer and the first modern-day closer.

Notoriously cold toward relief pitchers, the Hall of Fame didn’t treat Sutter any differently.  He spent 12 years on the ballot but received no call.  On his 13th chance, he finally did and was inducted in 2006.

Playing only 12 seasons during his brief career, Sutter still managed to win four Rolaids Relief Awards.  He also became the first inductee ever in history to have logged fewer than 1,700 innings pitched and also currently just the fourth (Satchel Paige, Rollie Fingers and Trevor Hoffman) to have a losing overall record (68-71).

Many writers have said that his short, injury-riddled career was a factor in his long journey to finally getting into Cooperstown.

Those same writers also admit that his induction was greatly helped by his five strong seasons as a member of the Chicago Cubs.  Not just because of his dominance in those years, but his impact on the game acting as a bannerman for a newly formed pitching role that became known as a “closer,” which was new at the time.

Bruce Sutter was only a Chicago Cub for five seasons from 1976-80.  However, in just those few years, he baffled opposing hitters with his devasting split-fingered fastball, a pitch he pioneered and granted him a second chance, on his way to becoming the first true modern closer in baseball history.

His 133 total saves for Chicago still rank as the second most in franchise history, only behind fellow Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith.