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{{short description|American baseball player and broadcaster (born 1956)}}
{{Infobox MLB retired
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Rick Sutcliffe
|name=Rick Sutcliffe
|image=Rick Sutcliffe.jpg
|image=Rick Sutcliffe 2014 (cropped).jpg
|caption=Sutcliffe in 2014
|width=120px
|position=[[Starting pitcher]]
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1956|6|21}}
|birth_place=[[Independence, Missouri]], U.S.
|bats=Left
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1956|6|21}}<BR>[[Independence, Missouri]]
|debutdate=[[September 29]]
|debutdate=September 29
|debutyear={{by|1976}}
|debutyear=1976
|debutteam=[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]
|debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=[[July 22]]
|finaldate=July 22
|finalyear={{by|1994}}
|finalyear=1994
|finalteam=[[St. Louis Cardinals]]
|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals
|stat1label=[[Win-Loss Record]]
|statleague = MLB
|stat1value=171-139
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat2label=[[Earned run average|ERA]]
|stat1value=171–139
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=4.08
|stat2value=4.08
|stat3label=[[Strikeouts]]
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=1,679
|stat3value=1,679
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
|teams=
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{by|1976}},{{by|1978}}-{{by|1981}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1976}}, {{mlby|1978}}–{{mlby|1981}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{by|1982}}-{{by|1984}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1984}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{by|1984}}-{{by|1991}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1984}}–{{mlby|1991}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{by|1992}}-{{by|1993}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1992}}–{{mlby|1993}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{by|1994}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1994}})
|highlights=
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki><!--This forces MediaWiki to recognize the first bullet. Kind of a workaround to a bug.-->
* 3x [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection (1983, 1987, 1989)
* 3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1983]], [[1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1987]], [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]])
* 1984 [[NL Cy Young]]
* [[NL Cy Young Award]] (1984)
* 1979 [[NL Rookie of the Year]]
* [[NL Rookie of the Year]] (1979)
* 1987 [[Roberto Clemente Award]]
* [[Roberto Clemente Award]] (1987)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|NL wins leader]] (1987)
* 1987 [[Lou Gehrig Memorial Award]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (1982)
* 2x [[NL TSN Pitcher of the Year]] (1984, 1987)
* [[Chicago Cubs#Cubs Hall of Fame|Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame]]
}}
}}
'''Richard Lee Sutcliffe''' (born [[June 21]], [[1956]] in [[Independence, Missouri]]) is a former [[Major League Baseball]] starting [[pitcher]] and current [[television]] [[sportscaster]], nicknamed "''The Red Baron''" for his red hair and beard.
'''Richard Lee Sutcliffe''' (born June 21, 1956), nicknamed "'''the Red Baron'''", is an American former [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]] with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], [[Cleveland Indians]], [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] between 1976 and 1994. Sutcliffe is currently a [[sportscaster|broadcaster]] for [[ESPN]] and [[Marquee Sports Network]].


A righthander, Sutcliffe was a three-time All-Star. He won the National League [[MLB Rookie of the Year award|Rookie of the Year]] award in [[1979 in baseball|1979]] and the National League [[Cy Young Award]] in [[1984 in baseball|1984]].
A right-hander, Sutcliffe was a three-time All-Star. He won the National League [[MLB Rookie of the Year award|Rookie of the Year]] award in {{MLBy|1979}} and the National League [[Cy Young Award]] in {{Baseball year|1984}}.


==MLB Career==
==MLB career==

===Early year and Rookie of the Year===
===Early years and Rookie of the Year===
Sutcliffe broke into the majors in 1979. He won 17 games for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and was the first of four consecutive Rookies of the Year for the Dodgers from 1979-[[1982 in baseball|1982]] ([[Steve Howe (baseball player)|Steve Howe]], [[Fernando Valenzuela]], and [[Steve Sax]] were the others). The Dodgers traded Sutcliffe to the [[Cleveland Indians]] for [[Jorge Orta]], a journeyman outfielder.
Sutcliffe attended [[Van Horn High School (Missouri)|Van Horn High School]] in [[Independence, Missouri]] where he received All-American honors as an infielder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1974 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Teams |url=https://www.abca.org/ABCA/ABCA/Awards/All-Americans/High_School/1974.aspx |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=www.abca.org |language=en}}</ref> Sutcliffe was the 21st pick in [[1974 Major League Baseball draft|1974 amateur draft]] by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. Sutcliffe's first full season in the majors was 1979.<ref name=bp>{{cite web|title= Biography Rick Sutcliffe|url= http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/sutclri01/bio|work= The Baseball Page|access-date= October 7, 2015|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151011070731/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/sutclri01/bio|archive-date= October 11, 2015}}</ref> He won 17 games for the Dodgers and was the first of four consecutive [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookies of the Year]] for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] from 1979&ndash;{{Baseball year|1982}} ([[Steve Howe (baseball)|Steve Howe]], [[Fernando Valenzuela]], and [[Steve Sax]] were the others).<ref name=bp/><ref>{{cite web |title=Dodgers Steve Sax named top rookie |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19821123&id=r59PAAAAIBAJ&pg=6486,3255812&hl=en|work= [[Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)]] |date= November 23, 1982}}</ref> Sutcliffe had a rough 1980 for the team; near the end of the season, he was told by [[Pete Rose]] that he'd been tipping his pitches.<ref>https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/#_ednref19</ref> Sutcliffe improved in 1981, a year in which the Dodgers went on to win the World Series. Although Sutcliffe did not appear on the Dodgers' roster for their [[1981 World Series]] championship run, he was awarded a World Series ring by the team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1984/09/03/620220/the-trade-that-made-the-cubs|title = The Trade That Made the Cubs| newspaper=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; Si.com }}</ref> Sutcliffe, angry at Dodgers' manager [[Tommy Lasorda]], whom he accused of lying to him, publicly demanded a trade. (Years later, the two reconciled.)<ref>https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/#_ednref19</ref> After the season, Sutcliffe was traded, along with [[Jack Perconte]], to the [[Cleveland Indians]] for journeyman outfielder [[Jorge Orta]], plus [[Jack Fimple]] and [[Larry White]].<ref>{{cite web |title=30th anniversary: Dodgers trade Sutcliffe away |author= Chris Jaffe|url= http://www.hardballtimes.com/tht-live/30th-anniversary-dodgers-trade-sutcliffe-away/|work= [[The Hardball Times]] |date=December 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/#_ednref19</ref>


===Chicago Cubs===
===Chicago Cubs===
Sutcliffe won 31 games over the course of the next two seasons for Cleveland and led the American League in earned run average in [[1982 in baseball|1982]]. In mid-[[1984 in baseball|1984]], Cleveland traded a struggling Sutcliffe to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for [[Mel Hall]] and [[Joe Carter]]. Sutcliffe rebounded and won 16 games for the Cubs while losing only one, helping them to the division championship. On [[October 2]], [[1984]], he started the first game of the NLCS against the [[San Diego Padres]], giving up two hits and no runs, gaining not only the victory, but also hit a home run in the third inning.<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B10020CHN1984.htm Chicago Cubs 13, San Diego Padres 0], Retrosheet.org, Retrieved on [[June 6]], [[2007]].</ref> Five days later, Sutcliffe pitched the final game of the series at [[Jack Murphy Stadium]], but posted the loss after giving up four runs in the seventh inning.<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B10070SDN1984.htm San Diego Padres 6, Chicago Cubs 3],Retrosheet.com ,Retrieved on [[June 6]], [[2007]].</ref>
Sutcliffe won 31 games over the course of the next two seasons for Cleveland and led the American League in earned run average in {{MLBy|1982}}. In mid-{{MLBy|1984}}, Cleveland traded a struggling Sutcliffe to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for [[Mel Hall]] and [[Joe Carter]]. Sutcliffe rebounded and won 16 games for the Cubs while losing only one, helping them to the division championship. On October 2, 1984, he started the first game of the [[1984 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] against the [[1984 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]], giving up two hits and no runs, not only gaining the victory, but also hitting a home run in the third inning.<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B10020CHN1984.htm Chicago Cubs 13, San Diego Padres 0], Retrosheet.org, Retrieved on June 6, 2007.</ref> Five days later, Sutcliffe pitched the final game of the series at [[Jack Murphy Stadium]], but posted the loss after giving up four runs in the seventh inning.<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B10070SDN1984.htm San Diego Padres 6, Chicago Cubs 3], Retrosheet.com, Retrieved on June 6, 2007.</ref>


Rick won the Cy-Young Award with a unanimous vote, beating out [[Dwight Gooden]] and [[Bruce Sutter]]<ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1984.shtml#NLcya 1984 National League Cy Young], baseball-reference.com, Referenced on [[June 6]], [[2007]].</ref> He also finished fourth in the league MVP voting. When he re-signed with the Cubs as a free agent the following year, his contract briefly made him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball.
Sutcliffe won the Cy Young Award with a unanimous vote, beating out [[Dwight Gooden]] and [[Bruce Sutter]].<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1984.shtml#NLcya 1984 National League Cy Young], baseball-reference.com, Referenced on June 6, 2007.</ref> He also finished fourth in the league MVP voting. When he re-signed with the Cubs as a free agent the following year, his contract briefly made him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball.


Sutcliffe started the [[1985 in baseball|1985]] season strong, going 5-3 in his first eight starts, including two complete game shutouts. A hamstring pull on [[May 19]] limited his starts for the year, followed by a series of arm injuries limited Sutcliffe's effectiveness over the next two seasons. In [[1987 in baseball|1987]], he bounced back to win 18 games and finished second in the league's Cy Young voting.
Sutcliffe started the {{MLBy|1985}} season strong, going 5–3 in his first eight starts, including two complete-game shutouts. A hamstring pull on May 19 limited his starts for the year, followed by a series of arm injuries which would limit Sutcliffe's effectiveness over the next two seasons. In {{Baseball year|1987}}, he bounced back to win 18 games and finished second in the league's Cy Young voting to [[Steve Bedrosian]] despite playing for a last-place Cubs team which also featured National League [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player|Most Valuable Player]] [[Andre Dawson]]. He also was presented 1987's [[Roberto Clemente Award]], given annually to a Major League player who demonstrates sportsmanship and community involvement.


In [[1989 in baseball|1989]], Sutcliffe won 16 games and made his final All-Star appearance--Lasorda was the manager. He also helped the Cubs to another division title, but the Cubs lost to the [[San Francisco Giants]] in the [[1989 National League Championship Series|playoffs]].
On July 29, 1988, in Philadelphia, Sutcliffe achieved one of baseball's rarest feats, especially for a pitcher, by stealing home plate during an 8–3 win over the [[1988 Philadelphia Phillies season|Phillies]], in which he also notched the victory. In {{MLBy|1989}}, Sutcliffe won 16 games and made his final All-Star appearance, where he was managed once again by [[Tommy Lasorda]]. He also helped the Cubs to another division title, but the Cubs lost to the [[1989 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] in the [[1989 National League Championship Series|playoffs]].


===Later years===
===Later years===
Recurring arm injuries caused Sutcliffe to miss most of the [[1990 in baseball|1990]] and [[1991 in sports|1991]] seasons and the Cubs did not offer him a contract for the next season. Many in media circles have speculated that Sutcliffe didn't do himself any favors by contracting food poisoning while eating a cheeseburger that contained tainted mayonaise. The incident earned Sutcliffe the moniker of a "Million Dollar Cheeseburger Eater". Signing with the [[Baltimore Orioles]], Sutcliffe went 16-15 and 10-10 in [[1992 in baseball|1992]] and [[1993 in baseball|1993]], starting the first game at [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]]. He wound up his career with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in [[1994 in baseball|1994]], going 6-4 in an injury-plagued season. He retired with a career record of 171-139, with an ERA of 4.08. He holds the unique distinction of having won each of the following league awards, once each, and each in a different season: Rookie of the Year (1979), Cy Young Award (1984), ERA leader (1982), and Wins leader (1987).
Recurring arm injuries caused Sutcliffe to miss most of the {{Baseball year|1990}} and {{Baseball year|1991}} seasons and the Cubs did not offer him a contract for the next season. Signing with the [[Baltimore Orioles]], Sutcliffe went 16&ndash;15 and 10&ndash;10 in {{Baseball year|1992}} and {{Baseball year|1993}}, starting the first game at [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]]. He ended his career by signing a one-year minor league contract with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in {{MLBy|1994}},<ref name="Naples">{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1994| title =Bo officially an Angel| publisher=The Naples Daily News| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/802046534/?terms=%22matt%20cammuso%22%20tulane| access-date = 13 March 2023}}</ref> going 6–4 in an injury-plagued season. He retired with a career record of 171&ndash;139, with an ERA of 4.08. He holds the unique distinction of having won each of the following league awards, once each, and each in a different season: Rookie of the Year (1979), Cy Young Award (1984), ERA leader (1982), and wins leader (1987). Sutcliffe also has the distinction of being the pitcher who faced all-time MLB home run leader [[Barry Bonds]] the most times without giving up a home run once, with 51 plate appearances between the two.

===Non-pitching statistics===
As a hitter, Sutcliffe was above average for a pitcher. He posted a .181 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (102-for-562) with 42 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 4 [[home runs]], 55 [[Run batted in|RBI]], 4 [[stolen bases]] and 34 [[bases on balls]]. He had a career-high 17 RBI in 1979 as a member of the Dodgers. In eight postseason games, he hit .500 (4-for-8) with 1 run, 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI.

Defensively, he was above average, recording a .973 [[fielding percentage]] which was 19 points higher than the league average at his position.


==Broadcasting==
==Broadcasting==
{{BLP refimprove|section|date=June 2021}}
After his retirement from baseball, Sutcliffe became a [[color commentator]] for the [[San Diego Padres]] on Channel 4 San Diego (1997-2004) and [[ESPN]] (1998-present), as well as a minor-league pitching coach in the [[San Diego Padres]] system for a couple of seasons. He also broadcasts the World Series for MLB International, where he is teamed with [[Dave O'Brien]], his usual ESPN partner. Sutcliffe was suspended for one game by ESPN in 2006 after a local television broadcast where he was slurring his words and his microphone was turned off.<ref>[http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/12745300/ Sutcliffe gives slurred interview on broadcast] from [[NBC Sports]], retrieved [[June 5]], [[2008]].</ref>
After his retirement from baseball, Sutcliffe was the pitching coach for the [[Idaho Falls Braves]] (a farm team of the Padres) in 1996 and 1997. After his coaching stint in Idaho Falls, Sutcliffe became a [[color commentator]] for the Padres on [[Channel 4 San Diego]] from 1998 to 2004.


Sutcliffe has served as an analyst for [[ESPN]] since 1998, when he served as a guest analyst for [[ESPN Radio]]’s coverage of that seasons MLB playoffs. He joined the network full-time in March 1999 and has appeared on ''[[Wednesday Night Baseball]]'' since 2002. ESPN announced that they had signed a multi-year extension with Sutcliffe in late 2018;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rigdon |first1=Jay |title=Rick Sutcliffe signs multi-year deal to remain at ESPN |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/rick-sutcliffe-signs-multi-year-deal-to-remain-at-espn.html |website=Awful Announcing |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref> he continues to be the lead analyst for their ''Wednesday Night Baseball'' coverage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cafardo |first1=Ben |title=ESPN Reaches Multi-Year Extension with MLB Analyst Rick Sutcliffe |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2018/12/espn-reaches-multi-year-extension-with-mlb-analyst-rick-sutcliffe/ |website=ESPN Press Room |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref> Sutcliffe has also provided commentary for international coverage of the World Series via [[DirecTV]]/[[MLB International]] (1997–2002 and since 2010).
On March 13th, 2008, Sutcliffe was diagnosed with "curable and "maintainable" colon cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments in his hometown of Kansas City during the spring of 2008 and returned to work with ESPN on May 21, 2008. He continues to maintain a positive attitude and credits this to his faith in Jesus, strong family encouragement, incredible friends and immense support all over the world. As a result of his trials, he has shown great interest in motivational speaking about overcoming trials through your faith for groups such as FCA.

On March 13, 2008, Sutcliffe was diagnosed with "curable and maintainable" [[colon cancer]]. He underwent [[chemotherapy]] and [[radiation therapy]] in his hometown of Kansas City during the spring of 2008 and returned to work with ESPN on May 21, 2008. He continues to maintain a positive attitude and credits this to his faith, family encouragement, friends, and support from fans. He also is a motivational speaker for the [[Fellowship of Christian Athletes]].
==Personal Life==
Sutcliffe is married to Robin (née Ross). The couple wed in February 1978.<ref>https://x.com/Sut_40/status/1386875100020973570</ref><ref>https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball ERA champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball wins champions]]


==References==
==References==
Line 66: Line 83:


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100706143712/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2009/11/sutcliffe_rick/ Rick Sutcliffe's ESPN Bio]
* Rick Sutcliffe's career statistics at [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sutclri01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com]
{{Baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=s/sutclri01|fangraphs=1012734|brm=sutcli001ric}}, or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/Psutcr001.htm Retrosheet]
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/ Rick Sutcliffe] at [[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] Bio Project


{{start box}}
{{succession box | before = [[Bob Horner]] | title = [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|National League Rookie of the Year]]| years = [[1979]] | after = [[Steve Howe (baseball player)|Steve Howe]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of Major League Baseball ERA champions|American League ERA Champion]] | before= [[Sammy Stewart]] | years=[[1982]] | after= [[Rick Honeycutt]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[John Denny]] | title = [[Cy Young Award|National League Cy Young Award]]| years = [[1984 in baseball|1984]] | after = [[Dwight Gooden]]}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Major League Baseball wins champions|National League Wins Champion]]
| years = [[1987]]
| before = [[Fernando Valenzuela]]
| after = [[Orel Hershiser]] & [[Danny Jackson]]
}}
{{succession box | before = [[George Brett (baseball)|George Brett]] | title = [[Lou Gehrig Memorial Award]] | years = [[1987]] | after = [[Buddy Bell]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Ray Knight]] | title = [[MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award|NL Comeback Player of the Year]]| years = [[1987]]| after = [[Tim Leary (baseball player)|Tim Leary]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[José Guzmán]] | title = [[MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award|AL Comeback Player of the Year]]| years = [[1992]]| after = [[Bo Jackson]]}}
{{end box}}
{{NL Cy Young}}
{{NL Cy Young}}
{{NL Rookie of the Year}}
{{NL Rookie of the Year}}
{{NL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{NL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{AL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{AL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{Sporting News MLB Rookie of the year}}
{{Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year Award}}
{{Roberto Clemente Award}}
{{Roberto Clemente Award}}
{{Lou Gehrig Memorial Award}}
{{Lou Gehrig Memorial Award}}
{{NL wins champions}}
{{AL ERA champions}}
{{BaseballTonight}}
{{BaseballTonight}}
{{1974 MLB Draft}}
{{Los Angeles Dodgers first-round draft picks}}
{{Chicago Cubs Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Cleveland Indians Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Baltimore Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{ESPN Major League Baseball}}
{{Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutcliffe, Rick}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutcliffe, Rick}}
[[Category:Baseball Rookies of the Year]]
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[[Category:People from Independence, Missouri]]

[[ja:リック・サトクリフ]]

Latest revision as of 20:10, 5 January 2025

Rick Sutcliffe
Sutcliffe in 2014
Pitcher
Born: (1956-06-21) June 21, 1956 (age 68)
Independence, Missouri, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 29, 1976, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
July 22, 1994, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record171–139
Earned run average4.08
Strikeouts1,679
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Richard Lee Sutcliffe (born June 21, 1956), nicknamed "the Red Baron", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals between 1976 and 1994. Sutcliffe is currently a broadcaster for ESPN and Marquee Sports Network.

A right-hander, Sutcliffe was a three-time All-Star. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1979 and the National League Cy Young Award in 1984.

MLB career

[edit]

Early years and Rookie of the Year

[edit]

Sutcliffe attended Van Horn High School in Independence, Missouri where he received All-American honors as an infielder.[1] Sutcliffe was the 21st pick in 1974 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sutcliffe's first full season in the majors was 1979.[2] He won 17 games for the Dodgers and was the first of four consecutive Rookies of the Year for the Dodgers from 1979–1982 (Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela, and Steve Sax were the others).[2][3] Sutcliffe had a rough 1980 for the team; near the end of the season, he was told by Pete Rose that he'd been tipping his pitches.[4] Sutcliffe improved in 1981, a year in which the Dodgers went on to win the World Series. Although Sutcliffe did not appear on the Dodgers' roster for their 1981 World Series championship run, he was awarded a World Series ring by the team.[5] Sutcliffe, angry at Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda, whom he accused of lying to him, publicly demanded a trade. (Years later, the two reconciled.)[6] After the season, Sutcliffe was traded, along with Jack Perconte, to the Cleveland Indians for journeyman outfielder Jorge Orta, plus Jack Fimple and Larry White.[7][8]

Chicago Cubs

[edit]

Sutcliffe won 31 games over the course of the next two seasons for Cleveland and led the American League in earned run average in 1982. In mid-1984, Cleveland traded a struggling Sutcliffe to the Chicago Cubs for Mel Hall and Joe Carter. Sutcliffe rebounded and won 16 games for the Cubs while losing only one, helping them to the division championship. On October 2, 1984, he started the first game of the NLCS against the San Diego Padres, giving up two hits and no runs, not only gaining the victory, but also hitting a home run in the third inning.[9] Five days later, Sutcliffe pitched the final game of the series at Jack Murphy Stadium, but posted the loss after giving up four runs in the seventh inning.[10]

Sutcliffe won the Cy Young Award with a unanimous vote, beating out Dwight Gooden and Bruce Sutter.[11] He also finished fourth in the league MVP voting. When he re-signed with the Cubs as a free agent the following year, his contract briefly made him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball.

Sutcliffe started the 1985 season strong, going 5–3 in his first eight starts, including two complete-game shutouts. A hamstring pull on May 19 limited his starts for the year, followed by a series of arm injuries which would limit Sutcliffe's effectiveness over the next two seasons. In 1987, he bounced back to win 18 games and finished second in the league's Cy Young voting to Steve Bedrosian despite playing for a last-place Cubs team which also featured National League Most Valuable Player Andre Dawson. He also was presented 1987's Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a Major League player who demonstrates sportsmanship and community involvement.

On July 29, 1988, in Philadelphia, Sutcliffe achieved one of baseball's rarest feats, especially for a pitcher, by stealing home plate during an 8–3 win over the Phillies, in which he also notched the victory. In 1989, Sutcliffe won 16 games and made his final All-Star appearance, where he was managed once again by Tommy Lasorda. He also helped the Cubs to another division title, but the Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants in the playoffs.

Later years

[edit]

Recurring arm injuries caused Sutcliffe to miss most of the 1990 and 1991 seasons and the Cubs did not offer him a contract for the next season. Signing with the Baltimore Orioles, Sutcliffe went 16–15 and 10–10 in 1992 and 1993, starting the first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He ended his career by signing a one-year minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1994,[12] going 6–4 in an injury-plagued season. He retired with a career record of 171–139, with an ERA of 4.08. He holds the unique distinction of having won each of the following league awards, once each, and each in a different season: Rookie of the Year (1979), Cy Young Award (1984), ERA leader (1982), and wins leader (1987). Sutcliffe also has the distinction of being the pitcher who faced all-time MLB home run leader Barry Bonds the most times without giving up a home run once, with 51 plate appearances between the two.

Non-pitching statistics

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As a hitter, Sutcliffe was above average for a pitcher. He posted a .181 batting average (102-for-562) with 42 runs, 4 home runs, 55 RBI, 4 stolen bases and 34 bases on balls. He had a career-high 17 RBI in 1979 as a member of the Dodgers. In eight postseason games, he hit .500 (4-for-8) with 1 run, 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI.

Defensively, he was above average, recording a .973 fielding percentage which was 19 points higher than the league average at his position.

Broadcasting

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After his retirement from baseball, Sutcliffe was the pitching coach for the Idaho Falls Braves (a farm team of the Padres) in 1996 and 1997. After his coaching stint in Idaho Falls, Sutcliffe became a color commentator for the Padres on Channel 4 San Diego from 1998 to 2004.

Sutcliffe has served as an analyst for ESPN since 1998, when he served as a guest analyst for ESPN Radio’s coverage of that seasons MLB playoffs. He joined the network full-time in March 1999 and has appeared on Wednesday Night Baseball since 2002. ESPN announced that they had signed a multi-year extension with Sutcliffe in late 2018;[13] he continues to be the lead analyst for their Wednesday Night Baseball coverage.[14] Sutcliffe has also provided commentary for international coverage of the World Series via DirecTV/MLB International (1997–2002 and since 2010).

On March 13, 2008, Sutcliffe was diagnosed with "curable and maintainable" colon cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy in his hometown of Kansas City during the spring of 2008 and returned to work with ESPN on May 21, 2008. He continues to maintain a positive attitude and credits this to his faith, family encouragement, friends, and support from fans. He also is a motivational speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Personal Life

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Sutcliffe is married to Robin (née Ross). The couple wed in February 1978.[15][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1974 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Teams". www.abca.org. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Biography Rick Sutcliffe". The Baseball Page. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  3. ^ "Dodgers Steve Sax named top rookie". Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina). November 23, 1982.
  4. ^ https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/#_ednref19
  5. ^ "The Trade That Made the Cubs". Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com.
  6. ^ https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/#_ednref19
  7. ^ Chris Jaffe (December 9, 2011). "30th anniversary: Dodgers trade Sutcliffe away". The Hardball Times.
  8. ^ https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/#_ednref19
  9. ^ Chicago Cubs 13, San Diego Padres 0, Retrosheet.org, Retrieved on June 6, 2007.
  10. ^ San Diego Padres 6, Chicago Cubs 3, Retrosheet.com, Retrieved on June 6, 2007.
  11. ^ 1984 National League Cy Young, baseball-reference.com, Referenced on June 6, 2007.
  12. ^ Bo officially an Angel, web: The Naples Daily News, 1994, retrieved March 13, 2023
  13. ^ Rigdon, Jay (December 5, 2018). "Rick Sutcliffe signs multi-year deal to remain at ESPN". Awful Announcing. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. ^ Cafardo, Ben (December 5, 2018). "ESPN Reaches Multi-Year Extension with MLB Analyst Rick Sutcliffe". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  15. ^ https://x.com/Sut_40/status/1386875100020973570
  16. ^ https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-sutcliffe/
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