View source for Don Sutton

{{short description|American baseball player (1945–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{about|the baseball player|the politician|Dan Sutton}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Don Sutton
|image= 1971 Ticketron Don Sutton.jpg
|caption=Sutton with the Los Angeles Dodgers, {{c.|1971}}
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1945|4|2}}
|birth_place=[[Clio, Alabama]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2021|1|19|1945|4|2}}
|death_place=[[Rancho Mirage, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 14
|debutyear=1966
|debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=August 9
|finalyear=1988
|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=324–256
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.26
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=3,574
|teams=
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1966}}–{{mlby|1980}})
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1981}}–{{mlby|1982}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1984}})
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1985}})
* [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] ({{mlby|1985}}–{{mlby|1987}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1988}})
|highlights=
* 4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1972]], [[1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1973]], [[1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1975]], [[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1977]])
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|MLB ERA leader]] (1980)
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers#Retired numbers|Los Angeles Dodgers No. 20]] retired
* [[Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor]]
* [[Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame|Braves Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate = [[1998 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1998]]
|hofvote = 81.6% (fifth ballot)
}}

'''Donald Howard Sutton''' (April 2, 1945 – January 19, 2021) was an American professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] who played 23 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), primarily for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. Sutton [[Win–loss record (pitching)|won]] a total of 324 games, pitched 58 [[Shutouts in baseball|shutouts]] including five one-hitters and ten two-hitters, and led the National League in [[walks plus hits per inning pitched]] (WHIP) four times. He is seventh on baseball's all-time [[strikeout]] list with 3,574.<ref name="BR">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suttodo01.shtml|title=Don Sutton Stats|publisher=Sports Reference|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=November 16, 2013}}</ref>

Sutton was born in [[Clio, Alabama]]. He attended high school and  college in Florida before entering professional baseball. After a year in the minor leagues, Sutton joined the Dodgers. Beginning in 1966, he was in the team's starting pitching rotation with [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Don Drysdale]], and [[Claude Osteen]]. Sixteen of Sutton's 23 MLB seasons were spent with the Dodgers. He spent much of the 1980s with the [[Houston Astros]], the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], the [[Oakland Athletics]] and the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]], before returning for a second stint with the Dodgers. He registered only one 20-win season, but earned 10 or more wins in every season except 1983 and 1988.

Sutton became a television sports broadcaster after his retirement as a player. He worked in this capacity for several teams, the majority being with the [[Atlanta Braves]]. Sutton was inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1998 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1998]].<ref name="HOF">{{cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/hof/sutton-don|title=Sutton, Don {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame|publisher=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]|work=baseballhall.org|access-date=November 16, 2013}}</ref>

==Early life==
Sutton was born in [[Clio, Alabama]], a small town in [[Barbour County, Alabama|Barbour County]], on April 2, 1945,<ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=Don Sutton, Hall of Fame pitcher for Dodgers, dies at 75|url=https://apnews.com/article/mlb-baseball-los-angeles-atlanta-braves-al-kaline-8319160f2989c94468612a9d30c87318|first=Beth|last=Harris|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 20, 2021|work=Associated Press}}</ref> the same day as future [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodger]] teammate [[Reggie Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithre06.shtml|title=Reggie Smith Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref>  He was born to [[Sharecropping|sharecroppers]] at the end of [[World War II]], in a tarpaper shack.<ref name=USAToday-1999-03-08>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/98hall.htm|title=Hall's doors open for Doby, Sutton|agency=Associated Press|date=March 8, 1999|work=USA Today}}</ref> At the time Sutton was born, his father was 18 and his mother was 15.<ref name=SABR>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/don-sutton/|title=Don Sutton|first=Gregory H.|last=Wolf|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref>  Sutton's father, Howard, gave him the strong work ethic which he carried throughout his career.<ref name=USAToday-1999-03-08/> His father tried logging and construction work, and in looking for work, moved the family to [[Molino, Florida]], just north of [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]].<ref name=SABR/><ref>Lederer, Rich. [http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/04/this_day_in_dod.php "1966 – Dodgers 6, Astros 3 – Sutton's First Win"], baseballanalysts.com, April 18, 2005.</ref>  Sutton and his family were [[Evangelical Christians]].<ref name=SABR/>

Sutton attended [[J. M. Tate High School]] where he played baseball, basketball, and football.<ref>[http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2006/0222.htm "Birdsong, Gaines, Summerall, Sutton headline Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame's 2006 induction class"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111150353/http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2006/0222.htm |date=November 11, 2007 }}, fhsaa.org, February 22, 2006.</ref> He led his baseball team to the small-school state finals two years in row, winning his junior year, 1962, and losing 2–1 in his senior year, and was named all-county, all-conference, and all-state for both of those seasons.<ref name=Nationls-MLB-2007-04-22>[http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070422&content_id=1923903&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was "Notes: Talent is sometimes tough to evaluate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219033346/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070422&content_id=1923903&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |date=February 19, 2014 }}, washington.nationals.mlb.com, April 22, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.nfhs.org/web/2004/01/athletes_nw.aspx "National High School Hall of Fame"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503154624/http://www.nfhs.org/web/2004/01/athletes_nw.aspx |date=May 3, 2007 }} – National Federation of State High School Associations</ref> He graduated in 1963 and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed".<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071231081655/http://www.gulfcoasttraveler.com/Archives/Volume2-Issue1 Profile]}}, GulfCoastTraveler.com; accessed October 5, 2015.</ref> He wanted to attend the [[University of Florida]], but coach Dave Fuller was not interested.<ref name=Nationls-MLB-2007-04-22/> He attended [[Gulf Coast State College|Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City]] for one year, and then [[Whittier College]]. After a good summer league, he was signed by the Dodgers.<ref name=Nationls-MLB-2007-04-22/>

==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 (baseball)|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" />

==Broadcasting career==
[[File:Don Sutton 2008.jpg|thumb|Sutton with the [[Washington Nationals]] in 2008]]

Sutton started his broadcasting career in 1989, splitting duties between Dodgers cable telecasts on [[Z Channel]] and [[Atlanta Braves]] telecasts on [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wolf|first1=Bob|title=Dodger Notebook : Sportscaster Sutton Sounds Off|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-19-sp-422-story.html|access-date=October 3, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 19, 1989}}</ref>

The following year, he became a full-time commentator for the Braves. In 2002, Sutton was diagnosed with [[kidney cancer]] resulting in the removal of his left kidney. In addition, part of his lung was removed in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Jack|title=Sutton Does Part to Fight Kidney Cancer|url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2009/04/12/announcers0412.html|access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> While undergoing cancer treatment, he continued his broadcasting career.<ref name="MLB obit"/>  He left TBS after the 2006 season, mainly because the network would broadcast fewer games in 2007 and had to cut back on the number of broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2006/10/5/94126/Don-Sutton-Out-As-Braves--Announcer.aspx |title=Don Sutton Out As Braves' Announcer |publisher=Chattanoogan.com |date=October 5, 2006 |access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref>

Sutton was a color commentator for the [[Washington Nationals]] on the [[MASN]] network during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. After the end of the 2008 season, Sutton still had two years left on his contract with the Nationals, but when an Atlanta Braves radio job opened up, he negotiated his release on January 27, 2009,<ref name=suttonreturn>{{cite news|title=Hall Of Famer Don Sutton Returning To Broadcast Braves Baseball|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2009/1/27/143460/Hall-Of-Famer-Don-Sutton-Returning-To.aspx|work=The Chattanoogan|date=January 27, 2009}}</ref> in order to return to Atlanta, where he had many ties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Sutton rejoins Braves broadcast team|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/3776758/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084121/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/3776758/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=July 21, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=January 27, 2009}}</ref> His most recent broadcast partner was [[Jim Powell (sportscaster)|Jim Powell]], who joined the [[Braves Radio Network]] in 2009. Sutton missed the 2019 season due to a broken [[femur]].<ref name="Tucker">{{cite web|url= https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-ceo-discusses-2020-broadcast-lineup/7elrxQO4jsdukkCaVfvdtN/ |title= Braves CEO discusses 2020 broadcast lineup |last=Tucker|first=Tim |date=January 19, 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=July 27, 2020}}</ref> He was unable to return to his broadcast career before his death.<ref name="MLB obit"/>

==Honors==
In 1997, Sutton appeared on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the fourth time. Sutton had previously expressed his desire to be elected to the Hall of Fame. However, when he fell nine votes short of election that year, he said that the vote was not that important. When he received the results of the vote, his two-month-old daughter Jacqueline was in an Atlanta [[neonatal intensive care unit]] after she was born 16 weeks early.<ref name=Fame>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Claire|title=When fame takes a back seat|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/28/sports/when-fame-takes-a-back-seat.html|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 28, 1997}}</ref> His daughter later recovered.<ref name=Blum>{{cite news|last=Blum|first=Ronald|title=Hall Opens Its Doors For Sutton|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/06/hall-opens-its-doors-for-sutton/|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|date=January 6, 1998}}</ref> On the 1998 ballot, Sutton became the only player selected for induction, receiving votes on 81.6% of ballots.<ref name=Blum/> The Dodgers retired his number that year.<ref name=Numbers>{{cite web|title=Dodgers Retired Numbers|url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/history/retired_numbers.jsp|work=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516151316/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/history/retired_numbers.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sutton was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in July 2015 for his work as a broadcaster.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Sutton inducted into Braves Hall of Fame|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/137584732/don-sutton-inducted-into-braves-hall-of-fame|access-date=July 21, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=July 20, 2015|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723202218/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/137584732/don-sutton-inducted-into-braves-hall-of-fame|url-status=dead}}</ref> He became the fourth Braves broadcaster to be honored in this fashion, joining his mentors [[Ernie Johnson (pitcher)|Ernie Johnson]], [[Skip Caray]], and [[Pete Van Wieren]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bain|first1=Matthew|title=Sutton inducted to Braves Hall of Fame|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/sutton-inducted-to-braves-hall-of-fame/nm3hN/|access-date=July 21, 2015|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 20, 2015|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429013502/http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/sutton-inducted-to-braves-hall-of-fame/nm3hN/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A section of [[U.S. Highway 29]], the main route for drivers leaving Pensacola north into Alabama, is named "Don Sutton Highway", and a youth baseball complex in [[Molino, Florida|Molino]], FL (near his childhood home of Cantonment, FL) also bears his name.

==Personal life==
Sutton was married twice: with his first wife Patti, he had two children: son [[Daron Sutton|Daron]] (b. 1969) and daughter Staci (b. 1973). With his second wife Mary, he had a daughter Jaqueline (b. 1996).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard |title=Don Sutton, Hall of Fame Right-Hander, Is Dead at 75 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/sports/baseball/don-sutton-dead.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 19, 2021}}</ref> His son Daron was also a broadcaster and has served as a television host or play-by-play announcer for five different [[Major League Baseball]] organizations: the [[Atlanta Braves]], [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[Arizona Diamondbacks]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=ari|title=Broadcasters|publisher=Arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com|access-date=November 16, 2013|archive-date=July 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701152729/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=ari|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Los Angeles Angels]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lucia |first1=Joe |title=Daron Sutton thinks departure from Angels may have been spurred by team ownership |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/daron-sutton-thinks-departure-from-angels-may-have-been-spurred-by-team-ownership.html |website=Awful Announcing |date=July 14, 2021}}</ref>

Sutton was an avid golfer and wine enthusiast and frequently made references to those hobbies while broadcasting. Sutton also broadcast golf and served as a pre- and post-game analyst for [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]]'s coverage of the [[1983 American League Championship Series|1983]] and [[1987 American League Championship Series]]. Sutton previously served as a color commentator for NBC's coverage of the [[1979 National League Championship Series]]. He was also a fan of the game show ''[[Match Game]]'', even appearing as a panelist on sporadic occasions from 1976 to 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/sutton-don|title=Sutton, Don |publisher=Baseball Hall of Fame|website=baseballhall.org|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref>

Sutton died of cancer on January 19, 2021, at age 75, at his home in [[Rancho Mirage, California]].<ref name=AP/><ref name="MLB obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/don-sutton-dies-at-75|title=Hall of Famer Don Sutton dies at 75|first=Mark|last=Bowman|date=January 19, 2021|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career shutout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball retired numbers]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{baseballstats |mlb=123006 |espn=654 |br=s/suttodo01 |fangraphs=1012745 |brm=sutton002don |retro=S/Psuttd001 |almanac=suttodo01}}
* {{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|sutton-don}}
* {{sabrbio|don-sutton}}
* {{IMdb name|id=0840301|name=Don Sutton}}

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{{Succession box| before = [[Bill Singer]] | title = [[List of Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day starting pitchers|Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day <br /> Starting pitcher]] | years = 1972–1978 | after = [[Burt Hooton]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Joe Torre]] | title = [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|Major League Player of the Month]]| years = April 1972| after = [[Bob Watson]]}}
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