Baseball Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter, who led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series championship in 1982, died Thursday. he was 69 years old.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Cardinals released a statement Friday regarding Sutter’s passing.
“Bruce Sutter was very honored when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. Since then, his kindness, love of Cooperstown and humility have shone through every time he returned to the Hall of Fame. ‘The museum’s president, Jane Forbes-Clark, said in a statement:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM.
“The Hall of Fame family will forever celebrate his achievements on the field and will never forget his passion for his family and friends. Our hearts go out to his wife, Jamie, and his children.”
The Cardinals also tweeted their condolences.
The team tweeted, “Sad at the passing of Bruce Sutter.” Sutter was a dominant pitcher and member of the ’82 World Series championship team.
“He is a member of both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Cardinals Hall of Fame. Our thoughts are with Bruce’s family and friends.”
Sutter was a pioneer of split-finger fastball and one of the most feared closers of his time.
He began his career with the Chicago Cubs in 1976, becoming an All-Star in his second full season with the club, earning his first All-Star selection and Cy Young and MVP award votes.
He won the first and only Cy Young Award as a member of the Cubs in 1979. He led the league with his 37 saves. He has a 2.22 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
Prior to the 1981 season, the Cubs traded Sutter to the Cardinals for Leon Durham, Ken Reyes, and a player named later (who turned out to be Ty Waller).
Sutter led the Cardinals to the World Series in 1982 and then made his final All-Star appearance in 1984, finishing that season with a career-high 45 saves. He spent the last year of his career with the Atlanta Braves before retiring after the 1988 season.
“The Cubs mourn the passing of Hall of Fame pitcher Bruce Sutter,” the Cubs added in a tweet. He pitched for Chicago through ’80, making 133 saves, the second-most in franchise history.
“My deepest condolences to the Sutter family.”
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, becoming the first person to enter Cooperstown without starting a game.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Sutter’s prominence foreshadowed the rise of the modern relief pitcher.
“We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of Bruce Sutter. His career has been a great baseball success story. Bruce rose from undrafted free agent to pioneering the split-finger fastball to the top of baseball. He made it to the major leagues, but won the Cy Young Award with the Cubs and was a World Series champion with the Cardinals in 1982. Bruce was the first pitcher to be inducted into the Hall of Fame without starting a game. , he was one of them – a key figure in how the use of relievers would evolve,” Manfred said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Bruce will be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of our two most historic franchises. , St. Louis, and Atlanta fans, and through our games.”