Don Sutton
The veteran right-hander who chased history on California soil before reaching 300 wins.
Don Sutton joined the California Angels in September 1985, trading from the Oakland Athletics where he had started the season with a 13–8 record. Seeking to return to Southern California to live with his family, Sutton aimed to reach his 300th career victory while playing near home. His arrival added a veteran presence to the Angels' rotation just as he approached this historic milestone. Although his tenure began late in the season, it set the stage for one of baseball's most significant achievements the following year.
- Role
- Starting Pitcher
- Status
- Retired / Hall of Famer
- Notable Record
- Most at-bats without a home run (1,354)
- Career Wins
- 324
- Strikeouts
- 3,574
- Shutouts
- 58
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Sutton's time with the Angels was defined by a specific personal goal: closing the gap to 300 career wins. Entering the 1986 season, he sat at 295 victories. Early struggles saw him post a 9.12 ERA in his first five starts, but he found his form quickly. On June 18, 1986, Sutton achieved his lifelong goal by pitching a complete game against the Texas Rangers. In that historic outing, he allowed only three hits and one run, striking out Gary Ward to secure the final out of his 300th win. Beyond this milestone, Sutton holds the major league record for most at-bats without a home run (1,354) and the franchise record for wins with the Dodgers (233), though he also holds the record for most consecutive losses to one team (13 to the Chicago Cubs).
In Their Own Story
Before the 1988 season began, tension arose between Sutton and former Angels pitcher John Candelaria. Candelaria criticized Sutton for reporting Candelaria's drinking habits to police in 1987, which led to a drunk driving arrest. While Candelaria claimed Sutton acted out of self-preservation to remove him from the rotation, Sutton stated he made the report solely due to concern for Candelaria's safety. Later that year, in August 1988, Sutton discussed a vacant assistant general manager position with Astros leadership while still under contract with the Dodgers. Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire cited this as a violation of league rules and noted that Sutton's stamina was a major factor in his release on August 10.
Reader's Guide
Sutton's career offers a lesson in longevity and adaptability, playing for five different teams during the 1980s before returning to the Dodgers. He registered only one 20-win season (1976 with the Dodgers) but earned 10 or more wins in every other season except 1983 and 1988. His 23-year career included a stint with the Milwaukee Brewers where he posted an 8–8 record in 1983, his lowest win total to date, before rebounding with a 14–12 record and a 3.77 ERA in 1984. As a hitter, he was solid for a pitcher, posting a .144 batting average (195-for-1354) with 64 RBIs. Defensively, he posted a .968 fielding percentage, which was 15 points higher than the league average.
Did You Know?
- Sutton holds the major league record for most consecutive losses to one team, having lost 13 straight games to the Chicago Cubs.
- He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 after winning 324 career games over 23 seasons.
- Sutton struck out Gary Ward for the final out of his historic 300th win on June 18, 1986, against the Texas Rangers.
- He holds the record for pitching nine scoreless innings but receiving a no-decision seven times in his career.