Don Sutton, the Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed veteran who has won more than 300 games in his career and has a niche in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, died Monday, his son Daron announced on social media.
He was 75 years old.
“It saddens me to tell you that my father died in his sleep last night,” Daron Sutton wrote on Twitter. “He worked as hard as anyone I’ve ever met and I treated those I met with a lot of respect … and it took me a long time to work. For all these things, I’m so grateful . Rest in peace.
I’m glad to tell you that my father died in his sleep last night. He worked as hard as anyone I’ve ever met and treated those he met with great respect … and took me to work a lot. For all this, I am very grateful. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/cvlDRRdVXa
– Daron Sutton (@lifeisgreatsut) January 19, 2021
Sutton spent the first 16 of his 25 seasons with the Dodgers. He was an All-Star four times, and his 324 victories ranked him 14th in Major League Baseball history.
He also played for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels during his career. After his playing career, Sutton served as an analyst for the Atlanta Braves for 28 seasons, analyzing games on both television and radio.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Don Sutton,” Braves said in a statement. “A generation of Braves fans got to know his voice … Don was as dreaded on the mound as he was loved on the stand. A 300-game, four-time All-Star winner, Don brought unparalleled knowledge of the game and gift despite his success, Don has never lost his generous character or humble personality. “
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
“Don Sutton’s brilliance on the field and his enduring commitment to the game he loved so much led him to his time of Hall of Famer,” said Jane Forbes Clark, president of the Hall of Fame and Museum Baseball. “I know how much he valued his moments in Cooperstown, just as we cherish our special moments with him. We share our deepest condolences to his wife, Mary and his family.”