.kKeedG{color:#057AFF;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom:none;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ After compiling 133 saves for the Cubs -- the second-most in franchise history -- Sutter was acquired by Cards GM Whitey Herzog on Dec. 9, 1980, in exchange for slugger Leon Durham, third baseman Ken Reitz and player-to-be-named-later Ty Waller. Bruce was a team guy. .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ This reduces speed and gives you that nice, fading movement to your throwing-arm side of the plate. Note: Because hitters at the college and professional levels may be able to pick up on the "raised" finger during this pitch's delivery, a beginners curve shouldn't be used past high school ball. .cHcHkC{font-size:1.2rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0;max-height:48px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;width:100%;-webkit-line-clamp:2;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;}/*!sc*/ Sutter and the split-fingered fastball -- a pitch he learned from Cubs Minor League instructor Fred Martin following an arm surgery in 1973 -- became forever linked in the history of the game. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.15);background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ Like a lot of things in sports, youre desperate and you try a lot of different things and it turned out to work. Theyll never develop their other pitches because theyll always get guys out with that pitch.. While his induction proved that he did indeed belong among baseballs greats, Sutter also found he belonged outside of baseball. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his family and through Cardinal Nation!. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2){-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);}/*!sc*/ Betances Slurve Jim Palmer/Zach Greinkes/Bert Byleven Big Curveball (for Bert/Jim its the 12-6, for Greinke its just the curve) Zach Britton/Orel Hershiser's Sinker up in the zone N. Ryan/B. The irony of that is that he struck out Gorman Thomas for the last out of the World Series on a high fastball that was just 84 miles per hour.. It is for sale at a price of $ .99. His success earned him a World Series ring in 1982 and enshrinement in Cooperstown in 2006. .drUhS path{fill:#000000;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb input[type='search']::-ms-clear{display:none;width:0;height:0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item:last-child{border:none;}/*!sc*/ h5.headlinestyle__HeadlineWrapper-sc-1ccyctx-0{font-weight:normal;}/*!sc*/ The splitter comes in with tight rotation and good velocity and dives The Cubs arranged a meeting with Sutter to release him, but during the conference, Sutter showed the executives his surgical scar. .hspSPq svg{padding-top:1px;vertical-align:top;fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ delivery with his split-fingered pitch was a delight. .hHLkAw input::-moz-placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{right:32px;top:calc(56px - 4px);}.mHQYb .mlb-header[data-is-club] .mlb-header__login-menu{top:calc(112px - 4px);}}/*!sc*/ abbr[title]{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration:underline dotted;text-decoration:underline dotted;}/*!sc*/ In his first season as a professional in 1972, Sutter experienced pain in his right elbow while pitching in the Gulf Coast League and was shut down for the rest of the year. /*-->*/ Sutter remembered as pioneer of split-fingered fastball, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. But as the years wore on and more pitchers adopted the splitter, it started to become apparent that it could have significant consequences. .bZhBFV{margin:0 auto 16px;}/*!sc*/ Sutter, though, helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series championship in 1982. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item__link{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:14px;}/*!sc*/ I always felt like he was a brother. You dont see it as much, Cuddyer said. For a while the splitter was in vogue. Typically, it's only a good pitch if you've got bigger hands. It turned Mike Scott from merely another guy into a Cy Young Award winner and helped Bruce Sutter become one of the games great closers. He missed the entire 1987 season before posting a career-worst 1-4 record in 1988 while dealing with ongoing shoulder problems. He was a conventional pitcher, but it was Fred Martin with the Cubs who came up with the idea [to throw the splitter] because Bruce had big hands and he could really wedge that ball between his fingers, Kaat remembered. He became the first pitcher enshrined who had never started a MLB game. Many pitching coaches and minor-league instructors are urging their younger prospects to focus on the straight changeup over the splitter, even though it is not quite as effective. He was 69 years old. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__content{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group:not(:first-child){margin-left:16px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group.cols{-webkit-column-count:2;column-count:2;-webkit-column-gap:8px;column-gap:8px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{width:100%;}}/*!sc*/ The Cubs offered Sutter $350,000, about a 50 percent increase from his $225,000 salary in 1979. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ .fvEQJr{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;}/*!sc*/ .cwEpxl{height:100%;width:100%;border:transparent;background:none;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:0.2s;transition:0.2s;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input:focus{outline:none;}/*!sc*/ I consider Bruce the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of the game. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ Here's a splitter from Ubaldo Jimenez that makes Torii Hunter chase out of the zone: One of the big misconceptions in baseball is that playing the game keeps you in shape to pitch. Other MLB pitchers to throw the splitter include Bruce Sutter, Masahiro . .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team:first-of-type:before,.mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player:before{color:#737373;font-size:12px;position:absolute;left:10px;top:10px;padding-top:12px;}/*!sc*/ Ted Williams once said that a slider was "the best pitch in baseball." textarea{overflow:auto;}/*!sc*/ DID YOU KNOW? Then, of course, this pitching grip is the next step. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his family and through Cardinal Nation!\n\nSutter got to see both sides of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, pitching for Chicago from 1976-80 and for St. Louis from 1981-84. Sutter got to see both sides of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, pitching for Chicago from 1976-80 and for St. Louis from 1981-84. How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Herzog also predicted when Sutter left via free agency in 1984 that he would be 25 games dumber without his trusted closer to finish off games. Half of these sixteen pitchers landed on the DL, missing a whopping total of 736 days. Anyone can read what you share. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top > *{-webkit-order:0;-ms-flex-order:0;order:0;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}/*!sc*/ This is the curveball grip that I used. data-styled.g154[id="newsletterLogostyle__NewsletterLogoContainer-sc-j5dgcz-0"]{content:"bZhBFV,"}/*!sc*/ It should be placedonthe baseball as opposed to pointed at a target. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner::after{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner::after{display:none;content:'';width:0;height:0;position:absolute;left:auto;right:-1px;top:33%;z-index:calc(99992 + 1);border-color:transparent #ffffff transparent transparent;border-style:solid;border-width:8px;}/*!sc*/ Do you know how to throw a split-finger fastball? Bruce Sutter, one of the best splitter pitchers in the history of the game, says that it is very important to put your thumb on the back seam, not the front seam. I was so honored when he gave me a shout-out at his induction at the Hall of Fame. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}/*!sc*/ He had another shoulder operation in 1987, returned to pitch in 38 games with a 4.76 ERA and 14 saves in 1988, then retired at age 35. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ READ THIS NEXT: Pitching Grips (Cheat Sheet): How To Throw 8 Different Baseball Pitches, TOPICS COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE pitch counts, check out my conditioning and throwing programs for baseball pitchers of all ages, Pitching Grips (Cheat Sheet): How To Throw 8 Different Baseball Pitches. The beginners curveball helps to align your hand and ball to the target. Early on, when no one in the . He was so quick to credit those of us who might get one out in the seventh inning, and he would say that was as important as him pitching the ninth inning. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:50px;border-top:0;min-width:250px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__input--icon--sm{top:0.5rem;right:0.5rem;}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club],.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite]{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team.p-search-item--es:first-of-type:before{content:'Equipos';}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img{height:56px;max-width:512px;line-height:56px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header__login-menu{border-color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail--rounded{background-color:#f7f7f7;margin-top:0;margin-left:0.25rem;height:40px;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;border-radius:50%;}/*!sc*/ check out my proven programs for pitchers of all ages, How to grip and throw a four-seam fastball, How to grip and throw a two-seam fastball, How to grip and throw a three-finger changeup, How to grip and throw a palmball (palm ball), How to grip and throw a beginners curveball, How to grip and throw a straight curveball, How to grip and throw a knuckle curveball, How to grip and throw a split-finger fastball, check out my proven programsfor pitchers of all ages. In fact, most pitchers feel this grip gives them the most rotation and most movement of any breaking pitch. He allowed a career-low three home runs on the season en route to both the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and the Sporting News Fireman of the Year Award. .evwvnJ{line-height:1.5;margin:0 auto 16px;max-width:470px;padding-left:0;position:relative;width:-webkit-fit-content;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content;}/*!sc*/ The Chicago White Sox and the pitching coach Don Cooper say it is all about throwing it with the proper technique. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{padding:0 32px;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container{width:auto;min-width:50vw;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:56px;overflow:hidden;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container--initialized{overflow:visible;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__primary,.mHQYb header.mlb-header 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