Rick Sutcliffe
Played For
Los Angeles Dodgers (1976-1981)
Cleveland Indians (1982-1984)
Chicago Cubs (1984-1991)
Baltimore Orioles (1992-1993)
St. Louis Cardinals (1994)
Sutcliffe vs. Lasorda
With the Dodgers in 1981, Rick Sutcliffe was buried in the bullpen behind a talented starting rotation that consisted of Fernando Valenzuela, Burt Hooton, Jerry Reuss, and Bob Welch. In September, according to Sutcliffe, Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda promised him a start. But instead, Sutcliffe saw Ted Power and Bobby Castillo get spot starts as the Dodgers prepped for the post-season.
"He had lied to me," Sutcliffe told the Cubs' team magazine in 1986.
"I asked why he had started Power and Castillo, and he said he wanted to give the younger pitchers a chance. But Power and Castillo were both older than I was!"
In a closed door meeting in Lasorda's office, Sutcliffe confronted his manager.
"[He said to me] 'You're lucky to be in the big leagues. You can't pitch in the big leagues.'
"That's when I picked him up by his uniform collar," Sutcliffe said, "I wasn't exactly choking him, but I guess my hands were sort of around his neck - and I held him in the air and said 'If you weren't 50 years old, I'd kick your ass.'"
Needless to say, Sutcliffe's days as a Dodger were over, and he was traded to Cleveland in December.
Despite Lasorda's protests that he never said Sutcliffe couldn't pitch in the big leagues, the two have rarely spoken since.
Born
Richard Lee Sutcliffe was born on June 21, 1956, in Independence, MO.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CHN
Major League Debut
September 29, 1976
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1976
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Willie Wilson
Garry Templeton
Dennis Martinez
Bruce Sutter
Rick Sutcliffe
Joaquin Andujar
Mark Fidrych
Nicknames
Red Baron
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 2000 |
BBWAA |
9 |
1.8% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1984 National League Championship Series
1989 National League Championship Series
Awards and Honors
1979 NL Rookie of the Year
1984 NL Cy Young
Pitching Feats
All-Star Selections
1983 AL
1987 NL
1989 NL
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