Editing Don Sutton (section)

==Baseball career==

===Los Angeles Dodgers===
After playing for the [[Sioux Falls Packers]] in South Dakota, Sutton entered the major leagues at 21. His major league debut came with the Dodgers on April 14, 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/suttodo01|title=Don Sutton Baseball Stats, facts, biography, images and video|publisher=The Baseball Page|access-date=November 16, 2013}}</ref> On the 1966 Dodgers, Sutton was the fourth starting pitcher in a rotation that included [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Don Drysdale]], and [[Claude Osteen]].<ref name=Pilot>{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Tom|title=Tapping the wit, wisdom of Hall of Fame pitcher Sutton|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2014/01/tapping-wit-wisdom-hall-fame-pitcher-sutton|publisher=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|access-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> He later said that the "best thing that could have happened to me was to join a team with Drysdale and Koufax. They were obviously helpful to me as a pitcher."<ref name="Fimrite" /> He struck out 209 batters that season, which was the highest strikeout total for a rookie since 1911.<ref name=HOF/> Sutton was passed over in Game 4 of the [[1966 World Series]], giving Drysdale a second start. Though the [[Baltimore Orioles]] did start a rookie in the World Series, future Hall of Famer, [[Jim Palmer]], Sutton did not pitch and the Dodgers were [[sweep (sports)|swept]] in four games by the Orioles.<ref name=WS1966>{{cite web|title=1966 World Series|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1966_WS.shtml|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>

Sutton was selected to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] four times in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost.php?p=suttodo01&ps=asg |title=Don Sutton All-Star Stats by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |date=April 14, 1966 |access-date=November 16, 2013}}</ref> The 1974 Dodgers made the postseason after winning 102 games during the regular season. They defeated the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] in the playoffs and Sutton accounted for two of the team's three wins.<ref name=LCS1974>{{cite web|title=1974 League Championship Series|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1974_NLCS.shtml|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> They lost the [[1974 World Series]] four games to one, with Sutton earning the only win for the team.<ref name=WS1974>{{cite web|title=1974 World Series|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1974_WS.shtml|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> In 1976, Sutton had his best major league season, finishing the year with a 21–10 [[win–loss record]].<ref name=Bangor/> He was the National League's starting pitcher and MVP of the [[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] at [[Yankee Stadium]]. He earned a complete game win in the 1977 playoffs, followed by a 1–0 record in two appearances in that year's World Series, which the team lost to the Yankees.<ref name=BR/>

In August 1978, Sutton captured media attention after a physical altercation with teammate [[Steve Garvey]]. Sutton had criticized what he thought was excessive media attention paid to Garvey, saying that [[Reggie Smith]] was really the team's best player. When Garvey confronted Sutton about the comments before a game against the Mets, they fought and had to be separated by teammates and team officials.<ref name=Fimrite>{{cite news|last=Fimrite|first=Ron|title=God may be a football fan|url=http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125690/1/index.htm|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=July 12, 1982}}</ref> The team returned to the postseason that year. Sutton had a 15–11 record during the regular season, but he struggled in the postseason as the Dodgers lost the World Series to New York again. In 17 postseason innings that year, Sutton gave up 14 earned runs.<ref name=BR/>

===Later career===
Los Angeles made Sutton a free agent after the 1980 season. During his time in Los Angeles, he set a team record for career wins.<ref name=Bangor>{{cite news|title=A's trade Don Sutton to California Angels|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19850911&id=oP9aAAAAIBAJ&pg=5564,4653426|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Bangor Daily News]]|date=September 11, 1985}}</ref>

Sutton was selected by ten teams in the 1980 free agent re-entry draft.<ref name="1980Draft">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Red |date=1980-11-14 |title=Sports of The Times; Once Again the Flesh Market |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/11/14/archives/sports-of-the-times-once-again-the-flesh-market.html |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> He was courted by both the Yankees and Astros but ultimately selected Houston. One factor in Houston's favor was that Sutton would be able to play in the pitcher-friendly [[Astrodome]].<ref name=Astros>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1980/12/04/archives/sutton-signs-with-the-astros-mets-offer-winfield-12-million.html |title= Sutton Signs With the Astros; Mets Offer Winfield $12 Million; Four-Year Contract Steinbrenner, Sutton Didn't Talk Astros Sign Sutton Astrodome a Factor Travers Looking |work=The New York Times |date=1980-12-04}}</ref>

After the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|1981 player strike]] interrupted the season, Sutton returned with seven wins and one loss. In an October 2 loss to the Dodgers, Sutton left the game with a [[patella|patellar fracture]], ending his season just as the Astros were about to clinch a berth in the NL postseason.<ref name=Rappoport>{{cite news|last=Rappoport|first=Ken|title=Astros lose game, and Don Sutton|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19811003&id=-HUfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3194,593512|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[The Day (New London)]]|date=October 3, 1981}}</ref>

Prior to the 1982 season, Sutton expressed a desire to return to play in Southern California, where he continued to live.<ref name="Return">{{Cite news |last=Tuite |first=James |date=1982-08-31 |title=Sutton Sent to Brewers, Astros Extend Met String |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/31/sports/sutton-sent-to-brewers-astros-extend-met-string.html |access-date=2025-01-25 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The team did not grant his request and, in August, the Astros sent Sutton to the Milwaukee Brewers for [[Kevin Bass]], [[Frank DiPino]], and [[Mike Madden]].<ref name=Trades>{{cite web|title=Don Sutton Trades and Transactions|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=suttodo01|publisher=[[Baseball Almanac]]|access-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> Astros player [[Ray Knight]] was critical of the trade, saying, "My first reaction to this trade is disbelief. I don't know who are the prospects we are getting, but I would think Don Sutton would bring a big name, a real big name. Here's a guy who is going to win you 15–20 games every year, and he never misses a start... He should really help the Brewers."<ref name="Shattuck">{{Cite news |last=Shattuck |first=Harry |date=1982-08-31 |title=Dear Milwaukee |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/akzlhzatzlcoilitwzknzththugloewv_ip-10-166-46-115_1739931019196 |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=Milwaukee Journal |page=9, part 2 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref> Sutton earned a win in a 1982 playoff game against the Angels, then started two games in the [[1982 World Series]] against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. He pitched 10 innings in the series, gave up nine earned runs and was charged with one loss.<ref name=BR/>

In 1983, Sutton had a down year for the Brewers, notching only 8 wins, his lowest full season total to date, and having an ERA of 4.08, the second highest of his career. His record and ERA improved in 1984 to 14–12 and 3.77.

In 1985, Sutton was traded to the [[Oakland Athletics]] in exchange for [[Ray Burris]]. He was reluctant to report to the team, as he was hoping to play for a team in [[Southern California]] so that he could live at home with his family. Sutton ultimately reported to Oakland 12 days late for [[spring training]]. He said that he had his family's approval in the decision and he mentioned his win total – he was 20 wins shy of 300 career wins – as a factor in the decision.<ref name=Newhan>{{cite news|last=Newhan|first=Ross|title=Don Sutton swallows his threat, reports to the A's camp|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-12-sp-34291-story.html|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 12, 1985}}</ref> After starting the season with a 13–8 record, Sutton was traded to the California Angels in September. In return, the Angels would send two minor league [[player to be named later|players to be named later]] to Oakland, Robert Sharpnack and Jerome Nelson.<ref name=Bangor/>

{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = LAret20.PNG
|Name   = Don Sutton
|Number = 20
|Team   = Los Angeles Dodgers
|Year   = 1998
|}}
Coming into the 1986 season, Sutton had 295 career victories. He struggled early in the season, recording a 9.12 ERA in his first five starts, but earned his 300th career win on June 18, pitching a [[complete game]] against the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in which he allowed only three hits and one run while striking out [[Gary Ward (outfielder)|Gary Ward]] for the final out of the game.<ref name=Cress>{{cite news|last=Cress|first=Doug|title=Grateful Sutton savors 300th win|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/06/20/grateful-sutton-savors-300th-win/|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=June 20, 1986}}</ref> He appeared in two games in the [[1986 American League Championship Series|1986 ALCS]] against the Boston Red Sox, earning a 1.86 ERA but registering two [[no-decision]]s.<ref name=BR/>

Sutton signed with the Dodgers again in 1988. Before the 1988 season began, Angels pitcher [[John Candelaria]] criticized him for tipping off police that Candelaria was drinking the previous year, leading to one of Candelaria's two 1987 drunk driving arrests. Sutton said that he made the report out of concern for Candelaria's safety; Candelaria said that Sutton was practicing "self-preservation" and attempting to have Candelaria removed from the Angels' starting rotation since Sutton was not pitching well.<ref name=Candelaria>{{cite news|title=Candelaria says Sutton set him up for DUI arrest|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/03/02/candelaria-says-sutton-set-him-up-for-dui-arrest/|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=March 2, 1988}}</ref>

In August 1988, Sutton spoke with Astros team leadership about a vacant assistant general manager position with the team. Dodgers executive vice president [[Fred Claire]] said that Sutton violated league rules by discussing such a position while under contract with a team, but Sutton said that he ran into Astros general manager [[Bill Wood (baseball)|Bill Wood]] at a game and simply mentioned his willingness to discuss the position later.<ref name=McManis>{{cite news|last=McManis|first=Sam|title=Against Claire's wishes, Sutton talks to Astros|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-10-sp-274-story.html|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 10, 1988}}</ref> The team released him on August 10. Claire said that Sutton's stamina was a major consideration in the move, as the team was looking for pitchers who could last more than five or six innings per start.<ref name=Cut>{{cite news|title=Dodgers cut 43-year-old Don Sutton|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19880811&id=gehVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5821,2405220|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[Eugene Register-Guard]]|date=August 11, 1988}}</ref>

Sutton holds the record for most at-bats without a home run (1,354). Sutton retains another record: seven times he pitched nine scoreless innings but got a no-decision. He also holds the major league record for most consecutive losses to one team (13 to the [[Chicago Cubs]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baseballbiography.com/don-sutton-1945 |title=The Ballplayers – Don Sutton |publisher=baseballbiography.com |access-date=November 16, 2013 }}</ref> Sutton also holds the Dodger franchise record for wins (233) and held the strikeouts record (2,696) for 42 years until he was passed by [[Clayton Kershaw]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knoblauch |first1=Austin |title=Clayton Kershaw passes Don Sutton to become Dodgers' strikeouts leader |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/liveblog/dodgers-vs-detroit-tigers-live-updates-score-start-time-news-analysis-mlb |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 30, 2022}}</ref>

As a hitter, Sutton was about average as pitchers go, posting a .144 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (195-for-1354) with 64 [[runs batted in]] and 60 [[base on balls|walks]]. Defensively, he was above average, recording a .968 [[fielding percentage]] which was 15 points higher than the league average at his position.<ref name="BR" />