Henry Cotto, Dan Rohn and Thad Bosley singled to tie the game 1-1, and after Sutter walked Gary Woods to load the bases, Keith Moreland hit a ground ball to third. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-right:0.5rem;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:55px;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ Ultimately, the two of them were swarmed by teammates and fans at Busch Stadium while celebrating the Cardinals' first World Series title in 15 years. code,kbd,samp{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{right:32px;top:calc(56px - 4px);}.mHQYb .mlb-header[data-is-club] .mlb-header__login-menu{top:calc(112px - 4px);}}/*!sc*/ Hold a baseball with a splitter grip. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ with the fingers spread farther apart to change the rotation and add break. Sutter, a National Baseball Hall of Famer and one of 14 people to have their number retired by the Cardinals, was most recently at Busch Stadium on April 7 for the teams annual Opening Day festivities. data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!sc*/ I think there is a correlation between some stresses put on the arms some guys have had elbow problems, forearm problems, shoulder problems and that pitch, Scioscia said. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container--sm{font-size:12px;height:30px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ He was just an amazing relief pitcher \\[who\\] was so good.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"1980-07-09T00:05:00Z","description":"7/8/80: Cubs pitcher Bruce Sutter fans the Tigers' Lance Parrish to earn the save in the NL's win in the 1980 All- Star Game","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:22","mp4AvcPlayback":null,"slug":"sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-home-team-id-160","title":"HBmig home_team_id: 160"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mmtax-no-pre-roll","title":"HBmig No Pre-roll on this clip"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-away-team-id-159","title":"HBmig away_team_id: 159"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"gamepk-67199","title":"1980/07/08 al@nl"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-feature","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_FEATURE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-112","title":"HBmig Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-vtp-1980","title":"HBmig 1980s"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-no-transcode","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_NO_TRANSCODE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-combined-media-state-media-archive","title":"HBmig MEDIA_ARCHIVE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-save","title":"HBmig Save"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"pitching","title":"pitching"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"all-star-game","title":"All-Star Game"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/jcghmk8p9sgzun2anyla","title":"Sutter saves All-Star Game","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Herzog, who acquired fellow Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers from the Padres a day before trading for Sutter, referred to the shaggy-bearded Sutter as a door-slammer.\" Herzog also predicted when Sutter left via free agency in 1984 that he would be 25 games dumber without his trusted closer to finish off games.\n\nI feel like people didnt realize how good he was until you managed him, Herzog raved. He also gave a lot of credit to Mike Roarke, a former Big League catcher, who helped him with that pitch. The splitter grip or split-finger fastball grip is very similar to that of the forkball, with the splitter being created based on the splitter. 2 is a two-seam fastball.) Though Reitz and Waller were duds as Cubs, Durham put together several good seasons for the Cubs, so it wasnt a terrible trade. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span{display:block;position:absolute;height:2px;width:24px;background:#ffffff;opacity:1;-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg);-ms-transform:rotate(0deg);transform:rotate(0deg);-webkit-transition:all 250ms ease-in-out;transition:all 250ms ease-in-out;border-radius:3px;}/*!sc*/ This puts the ball out front just a bit more than a fork ball. Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week. It's a variation of my beginners curveball and my knuckle curveball. Most hitters certainly would not be sorry to see the splitter go. There should be a "gap" or space between the ball and your palm (as shown in the middle picture). Sutter eventually got hurt in August, and perhaps not coincidentally, the Cubs started losing games. Herzog also predicted when Sutter left via free agency in 1984 that he would be 25 games dumber without his trusted closer to finish off games. But if you throw the fastball overhand with enough force, it will appear to rise because it's not dropping as much as the batter's brain thinks it should. .dLQAwR{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-right:8px;min-height:48px;margin-bottom:8px;padding-right:8px;}/*!sc*/ Because of its deceptively slower velocity and sharp drop, a splitter is designed to get the hitter's bat ahead of the pitch and induce weak contact. Rest in peace. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header{font-size:14px;}}/*!sc*/ [type="checkbox"],[type="radio"]{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ They both had that same calm demeanor and could handle ninth innings. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. How To Grip And Throw A Straight Curveball. Note: Because hitters at the college and professional levels may be able to pick up on the "raised" finger during this pitch's delivery, a beginners curve shouldn't be used past high school ball. .hHLkAw input::-moz-placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ In essence, this pitch does the exact opposite as a fastball. Post pictures of your pitching grips on mybaseball pitching discussion forums. The beginners curveball helps to align your hand and ball to the target. It includes the Cubs coming back on the field to celebrate with fans, something rarely done in that era. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item__subnav-arrow{opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ Walt Dixon, Sutter's manager in the rookie league and at Quincy, wasn't overly confident in Sutter's potential. Cubs ownership claimed the salary was something they couldnt afford, and after Sutter had another very good season for a 98-loss Cubs team in 1980, they traded him to the Cardinals for Leon Durham, Ken Reitz and Ty Waller. Everyone was throwing that pitch, said Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, who was a catcher for the Dodgers in the 1980s. .iQELft{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top{height:56px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item{display:none;-webkit-flex:1 1 100%;-ms-flex:1 1 100%;flex:1 1 100%;position:relative;text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ fieldset{padding:0.35em 0.75em 0.625em;}/*!sc*/ Again, a two seamer is gripped a little firmer than the four seamer. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-weight:700;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:10px 12px;}/*!sc*/ Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Bruce ascended from being a nondrafted free agent to the heights of baseball by pioneering the split-fingered fastball. .hHLkAw input.left{padding-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,1fr);grid-gap:24px;font-size:1rem;}/*!sc*/ Still, Sutter had a 1.54 ERA over a career-best 122 2/3 innings that season, and he parlayed the performance into a six-year, $9.1 million free-agent deal with the Braves. Another somewhat lesser-known bit of Cubs revenge against Sutter came in the final game of the 1984 season, after the Cubs had clinched the NL East title. The Baseball Hall of Fame said Bruce Sutter died in Cartersville, Georgia. In other words, because I'm a righty, I'd throw two-seamers inside to right-handed batters and four-seamers away. Bruce was a team guy. .hspSPq:hover svg{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g160[id="newsletterOptinstyle__InputWrapper-sc-d7sh2p-5"]{content:"hYmwpY,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Sutter rarely threw his splitter for a strike, but it was difficult for hitters to lay off. That way, you can still get good wrist-snap upon release. data-styled.g143[id="Styles__SocialContainer-sc-1h38xz1-0"]{content:"blLcNM,"}/*!sc*/ ","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2022-10-14T18:45:46.055Z","description":"MLB Tonight reflects on the life and career of Bruce Sutter after he passed away at the age of 69","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:02:49","mp4AvcPlayback":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-10/14/5fd2ae3c-3b06190f-19f3684e-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","slug":"sutter-s-mlb-career-remembered","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-138","title":"St. Louis Cardinals"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-144","title":"Atlanta Braves"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"mlb-network","title":"MLB Network"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"mlbn-mlb-tonight","title":"MLB Tonight"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"no-pre-roll","title":"no pre-roll"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"tribute","title":"tribute"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ayogwo55gknjmpu3unc2","title":"Sutter's MLB career remembered ","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-s-mlb-career-remembered"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"I think he was sort of a precursor to what Mariano Rivera did with the cutter -- Bruce did it with one pitch and that was the split-fingered fastball, Hall of Famer and 1982 teammate Jim Kaat told MLB.com on Friday. Thirty-three years after his budding career appeared to be over before it had barely begun, Bruce Sutter will . Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link{display:block;padding:10px;color:#081c3b;background-color:#f7f7f7;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ Splitters are also thrown with the same minimal wrist action as a fastball, unlike the wrist-snap used for a forkball. 27 Dec 2022 16:10:10 This enables a pitcher to apply pressure to the outer-half of the ball with the index finger. And you STILL will NOT hit it! Im a believer that its not pitches that hurt people, its poor deliveries, Cooper said. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Theres a lot of occasions I look at one of our pitchers and say, man, if he could throw a split it would really help him out a lot, Balsley said. Every young kid who dreams of pitching in the major leagues has imagined himself striking out the batter to end the seventh game of the World Series, Sutter said. window.appId = '' ERA, 31 saves, sixth place in Cy Young voting and seventh place in MVP voting, and compiled 6.5 bWAR. As it turned out, it proved to be one of the difference-making moves that helped St. Louis win it all in '82. Closer had a different connotation back then; Sutter would often pitch two or more innings at the end of games. @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.kwDmpG{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;margin-right:8px;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g157[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Title-sc-d7sh2p-2"]{content:"ihHuHi,"}/*!sc*/ He is a member of both teams Halls of Fame. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ At 55 feet the ball dropped clear out of the strike zone. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container:hover{background-color:#e6f2ff75;color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter is one of the greatest relief pitchers in baseball history and popularized the split fingered fastball. straight down at the last second. Watching Sutter use his 86-m.p.h. It helps to develop a good "feel" for the pitch, which is important since the changeup is a finesse pitch. .blLcNM .content >:nth-last-child(2){border:none;margin-right:auto;padding-right:48px;}/*!sc*/ When thrown with the effort of a fastball, the splitter will drop sharply as it nears home plate. It's in the women's section where fingernail polish is found, of course. .blUWSx{height:30px;position:relative;width:30px;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:350px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ The final installment of $9.1 million reportedly was paid to him in 2021. .hspSPq svg path{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ @supports (-moz-appearance:none){.koKsQt .share-button__square,.koKsQt .share-button__email{-webkit-filter:brightness(0%);filter:brightness(0%);}}/*!sc*/ Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ Every baseball player wants to be remembered, Sutter said, whether its for a pitch or a play or a season.. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail--rounded{background-color:#f7f7f7;margin-top:0;margin-left:0.25rem;height:40px;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;border-radius:50%;}/*!sc*/ Being a St. Louis Cardinal was an honor he cherished deeply, Chad Sutter said. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{background:#ffffff;border-top:solid 4px #002867;box-shadow:0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);box-shadow:6px 6px 15px -3px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);left:-99em;opacity:0;padding:10px;position:absolute;right:0;-webkit-transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;width:160px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ Using the pitch that replicated a fastball before dropping out of the strike zone, Sutter racked up 31 saves in his first full season in 1977, 27 more in 78 and 37 in 79 with a 2.22 ERA to beat out Joe Niekro for the Cy Young Award. A split-finger fastball is thrown with the same arm-action of a regular fastball, but the pitchers index and middle finger are spread wide to cradle the ball. His split-finger pitch was almost unhittable for a while. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav{display:none;pointer-events:none;}/*!sc*/ That's because there is essentially no significant difference between a straight curveball and a beginners curveball, except for the finger placement of your index finger. Jul 28, 2006. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline--no-sponsor{margin-right:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g141[id="sharestyle__Wrapper-sc-9nfkvu-1"]{content:"blUWSx,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb a{text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g100[id="styles__SearchWidgetContainer-sc-1vorjk3-0"]{content:"fYCiRB,"}/*!sc*/ Long before Bobby Bonilla famously deferred much of his contract with the Mets to make additional millions in salary, Sutter pulled off a financial move for the ages. Sutter settled in the Atlanta area after retirement and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006 in his 13th year on the ballot. "When Bruce Sutter is ready for the big leagues, that's the day the Communists take over," he reported to the Cubs' minor league staff. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-url-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/