In 1982, Sutter pitched the final out in the seventh game of the World Series to help defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3. .iQELft{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ Its a pitch we really try to shy off of.. .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*/ A three-finger changeup is a good off-speed pitch for younger baseball pitchers and for those who do not have big hands. The Conchs were a terrible team they finished dead last in the league at 37-94 but produced several MLB players including Sutter, Joe Wallis, Donnie Moore and Mike Krukow. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a{height:56px;}/*!sc*/ I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. The rest is simple: This pitch should work for itself. We obviously sat in the bullpen together for many, many hours and he was a great teammate and an even greater friend. Sutter had five outstanding seasons for the Cubs, but eventually his success led to an arbitration award deemed too expensive for the sclerotic Wrigley ownership regime, and he was traded to the Cardinals. @media (max-width:1023px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-items{font-size:14px;}}/*!sc*/ Most good slider pitchers grip the outer-third of the baseball and cock their wrist slightly, but not stiffly, to their throwing hand's thumb-side upon release of the pitch. You dont see that anymore.\n\nDuring the prime of his career, Sutter led the NL in saves for four straight seasons and five times in six years before joining the Braves as a free agent after the 1984 season. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline{margin-right:auto;display:none;}/*!sc*/ Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. .mHQYb .p-search__status{left:-9999px;position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bruce Sutter delivers the ball to the plate en route to his record setting 38th save of the season against the New York Mets in this Sept. 4, 1984 file photo. His dominance, and Hall of Fame career, can be directly traced back to learning the split-fingered fastball. 4 views of Bruce Sutter's split-finger fastball grip lostwalletMP 1.9K views 11 years ago Dempsey's Dugout: Ubaldo Jimenez shows how he grips his pitches masn Orioles 3.6K views 6 years ago. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{margin-right:5px;width:10px;height:15px;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/ Back to Sutter: He signed a six-year deal with the Braves after the 1984 season, a contract said to be worth, per the New York Times: about $44 million. WINNETKA Congratulations to Bruce Sutter on his Hall of Fame induction. His split-finger pitch was almost unhittable for a while. [type="checkbox"],[type="radio"]{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ main{display:block;}/*!sc*/ All the #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news you can use, four days a week. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;position:relative;z-index:99993;padding:0 14px;background-color:#041e42;box-shadow:1px 0 5px #000000;}/*!sc*/ "I knew Bruce deeper than just about any other teammate. The deeper the grip, the more friction that is created on the ball, which takes off velocity. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in::after{background:none;bottom:-17px;content:'';height:22px;left:auto;right:7px;opacity:0;position:absolute;-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);-webkit-transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;width:22px;}/*!sc*/ He missed the entire 1987 season before posting a career-worst 1-4 record in 1988 while dealing with ongoing shoulder problems. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container:hover{background-color:#e6f2ff75;color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ This enables a pitcher to apply pressure to the outer-half of the ball with the index finger. .ihHuHi{font-size:19px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:8px;}/*!sc*/ Sutter recently was diagnosed with cancer and died in hospice. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus{outline:1px dotted #041E42;}/*!sc*/ More images of splitter grips Image source: baseball-pitching-tips.com DID YOU KNOW? You can just take your fingers and the more you put them apart, the more you put stress on the elbow, the Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said. A slider is the third fastest pitch in baseball. He was 69. The splitter is a very effective pitch. He spent the next year pitching in semipro leagues around his hometown before the Cubs signed him as an amateur free agent on Sept. 9, 1971. Bruce Sutter is one of the greatest relief pitchers in baseball history and popularized the split fingered fastball. .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team:first-of-type:before{content:'Teams';}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb input[type='search']::-ms-clear{display:none;width:0;height:0;}/*!sc*/ Feller/Billy Wagner's Fastball Nowadays, the splitter has fallen out of favor. He wasnt quite as good in 1978, though still made the NL All-Star team for the second straight year. .groqnz .ad-body-container .ad-body-inner-container{margin-bottom:32px;padding:43px 0 16px 0;position:relative;text-align:center;width:343px;}/*!sc*/ According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he died Thursday in Cartersville, Georgia. If we had a Sunday game and we were off on Monday and didnt play again until Tuesday night, hed knock on my clubhouse office door and say, 'Skipper, if you need me in the seventh, Ill come in and finish it off for you. Hed do that every Sunday and hed finish it out for me. Anyone can read what you share. .groqnz{margin-bottom:32px;}/*!sc*/ a{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutters entire career can be boiled down to about an inch of white leather and red stitching. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Jamye, and his children.. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{display:none;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ He was a six-time All-Star and a four-time winner of the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award.\n\nOn behalf of the Cardinals organization and baseball fans everywhere, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the Sutter family, said Cardinals principal owner and chief executive officer Bill DeWitt Jr. Bruce was a fan-favorite during his years in St. Louis and in the years to follow, and he will always be remembered for his 1982 World Series clinching save and signature split-fingered pitch. .hHLkAw input:focus{outline:none;}/*!sc*/ .drUhS path{fill:#000000;}/*!sc*/ He agreed to receive $750,000 a year in salary with Atlanta and defer the remainder of his money, with the Braves paying him $1.12 million over a 30-year period. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail{margin-top:auto;height:45px;}/*!sc*/ Six out of fifteen pitchers did time on the DL, missing a total of 400 days. .hHLkAw input::-ms-clear{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp{margin-top:24px;background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ I consider Bruce the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of the game. When throwing this pitch, throw the palm-side wrist of the throwing-hand directly at the target while keeping your index and middle fingers extended upward. 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.. If you think about it, every five days, throwing it 25 times isnt too bad not abusing it.. A great way to develop the "fastball mechanics" but changeup speed is to practice throwing your changeup as you long toss (throwing beyond 90 feet). Don't jam the ball past the midway point of your fingers, but the grip is firm. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){top:16px;}/*!sc*/ The movement on this pitch comes from the baseball spinning off of the index finger from the outside of the baseball NOT from twisting your hand underneath the ball. .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ Splitters are a relatively uncommon offspeed pitch, but they are still used with some prevalence. This is how splitters get their downward movement. This reduces speed and gives you that nice, fading movement to your throwing-arm side of the plate. .hHLkAw input[type='search']{height:32px;-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list:focus{outline:0;}/*!sc*/ His dominance, and Hall of Fame career, can be directly traced back to learning the split-fingered fastball. Day trip or a week-long adventure. .blUWSx .share-button{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;background:none;border:none;padding:0;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ He agreed to receive $750,000 a year in salary with Atlanta and defer the remainder of his money, with the Braves paying him $1.12 million over a 30-year period. He posted 300 saves in a 12-year career with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and . Grip this pitch softly, like an egg, in your fingertips. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-items{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;padding-top:2px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__revenue{display:none;}/*!sc*/ h5.headlinestyle__HeadlineWrapper-sc-1ccyctx-0{font-weight:normal;}/*!sc*/ .evGxub{display:inline-block;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM .content >:nth-last-child(2){border:none;margin-right:auto;padding-right:48px;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:375px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--shortname{display:none;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:inline-block;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo img{width:auto;min-height:31px;max-height:31px;height:100%;}/*!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*/ Sutter eventually got hurt in August, and perhaps not coincidentally, the Cubs started losing games. Like a lot of things in sports, youre desperate and you try a lot of different things and it turned out to work. .drUhS rect{fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ In 1984, though, the Cubs would get revenge, of a sort, when Ryne Sandberg famously hit two homers off Sutter in what would become known as The Sandberg Game. Here are both those home runs: Watch the way Sutter takes the new baseball in his glove after the second homer (at about :42 into the video). Sutter saved 27 games in 1978, then followed with a Cy Young Award and a National League record-tying 37 saves in 1979. .mHQYb .p-search__list--sm{font-size:12px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ In all, there were 401 days missed. .dLQAwR .contributor__text--name{color:#222222;font-size:1rem;font-weight:600;line-height:1;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ It's essentially a four-fingered change-up where the baseball is centered in your hand between your middle and ring fingers. data-styled.g147[id="Styles__MarkdownContainer-dxqlie-0"]{content:"eJdqRG,"}/*!sc*/ .ebrWqN{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;background-color:#f3f3f3;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;}/*!sc*/ But in early development, no.. .cwEpxl:hover{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ From 2010-13, there have been about 15 starting pitchers per season who use their splitter with at least a ten percent frequency. header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open{position:fixed;top:0px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ Seek out and celebrate your heroes, and explore online and in-person exhibits commemorating the history and impact of the game. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Proper pitching starts with the right grip on the baseball. A lot of his saves were 2 to 2 1/3 innings. (But I also think this is a great grip for more advanced pitchers to use in a practice setting if you're having trouble with your breaking ball. The Baseball Hall of Fame said Bruce Sutter died in Cartersville, Georgia. Twelve years in the majors and 300 saves later, Sutter had become one of the most dominant relievers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, all because of a different grip on the ball. pre{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular.woff') format('woff');font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Id like to tell you I worked and worked at it but Id be lying to you because it did come to me right away, Sutter said. He pitched in only 16 games in 1986 and didnt pitch after May 27. How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball. body{margin:0;}/*!sc*/ To throw a circle changeup make - quite literally - a circle or an "OK" gesture with your throwing hand (using your thumb and index fingers). I consider Bruce the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of the game. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent::after{border-color:transparent transparent #057AFF;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--current{border-color:#057AFF;}}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input.left{padding-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ He was within about 30 minutes of getting released., Bruce Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. .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*/ The grip is firm. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:hover{border-radius:3px;background-color:#dddddd;color:#002867;}/*!sc*/ #react-header{width:100%;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__link--message-icon{width:10px;margin-right:5px;}/*!sc*/ The split-finger fastball's grip is similar to the two-seam fastball, but the fingers are spread farther apart to change the rotation and add breaks. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link{display:block;padding:10px;color:#081c3b;background-color:#f7f7f7;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo{padding-left:20px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-decoration,.hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-cancel-button,.hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-results-button,.hHLkAw input::-webkit-search-results-decoration{display:none;}/*!sc*/ As a free agent, Sutter left the Cardinals for Atlanta in 1984, recording a career-high 45 saves for the Braves and tying Dan Quisenberrys record for most saves in a season. In 1975, Sutter helped lead the Double-A Midland Cubs to a Texas League championship, and by 1976, he was playing for the parent club. The grip causes the ball to tumble. There should be a "gap" or space between the ball and your palm (as shown in the middle picture). .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{display:block;padding:10px;width:100%;-webkit-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid;word-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter pitched for the Cardinals from 1981-1984 and saved Game 7 of the 1982 World Series. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in{height:56px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}/*!sc*/ This TV sports report has the highlights scroll in to 1:00 to start watching. The thumb action of the pitch is upward. In general though, the results for these pitchers are pretty close to that of the general population of major league starting pitchers. .bZhBFV img{max-width:220px;}/*!sc*/ The less friction, of course, the quicker the baseball can leave your hand. He was a three-sport athlete in high school, excelling as captain of both the football and basketball team while leading the baseball team to a county championship. Herzog, who acquired fellow Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers from the Padres a day before trading for Sutter, referred to the shaggy-bearded Sutter as a door-slammer." The splitter is known for its tight rotation and strong velocity. Nico kicks ass AND chews bubble gum. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item{color:#222222;background-color:#ffffff;font-size:14px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ ::-webkit-file-upload-button{-webkit-appearance:button;font:inherit;}/*!sc*/ button:-moz-focusring,[type="button"]:-moz-focusring,[type="reset"]:-moz-focusring,[type="submit"]:-moz-focusring{outline:1px dotted ButtonText;}/*!sc*/ He finished with a 1.34 (!) @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-black.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-black.woff') format('woff');font-style:normal;font-weight:900;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ While his induction proved that he did indeed belong among baseballs greats, Sutter also found he belonged outside of baseball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ As a pioneer of the pitch, Sutter paved the way for the many pitchers who throw splitters today. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ ", How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball. The grip is similar to the two-seam fastball, but Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 10 moments that defined Sutter's career. Former Cubs closer and Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter has died, Cubs 4, Padres 0: The first Spring Training no-hitter in Cubs history. Chad Sutter, son of the legendary closer, stressed the importance of the Cardinals organization and its fan base to Bruce in a statement released on Friday morning. .eJdqRG a:hover{color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-semibold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-semibold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:600;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ That's because the pitch itself should be "choked" deep in the hand. .hUHmCp > article .ad-top-right-container::before,.hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container::before{font-family:"proxima-nova";content:"ADVERTISEMENT";display:block;position:absolute;top:-17px;text-align:center;width:100%;color:#888888;font-size:0.694rem;line-height:13px;}/*!sc*/ 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. Some more guesses as to who will be on the field at Wrigley on March 30. The palmball (sometimes called a palm ball or four-finger changeup) is one of two or three variations of the changeup. A total of $4.8 million would be paid in salary over the six years and the other $4.8 million would be invested into a deferred payment account at 13 percent interest that would pay Sutter $1.3 million a year for the 30 years after the six-year deal ends. Sutter posted a 1.38 ERA and 1.031 WHIP with 65 strikeouts in 64 innings in 1974 split between Key West and Double-A Midland, had a similarly good year in Midland in 1975 and after seven dominant games in Triple-A in 1976, was promoted to the Cubs, where he made his MLB debut in garbage time in the ninth inning of a 14-2 loss to the Reds May 9, 1976. ","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2006-07-30T16:11:00Z","description":"7/30/06: Bruce Sutter shares his acceptance speech as he is inducted to the Hall of Fame","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:17:26","mp4AvcPlayback":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-12/10/7356fbee-8d68ca6b-71eacfc4-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","slug":"sutter-inducted-into-hall-of-fame","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-138","title":"St. Louis Cardinals"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"baseball-hall-of-fame","title":"Baseball Hall of Fame"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"baseball-hall-of-fame-induction","title":"Hall of Fame Induction"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"the-vault","title":"The Vault"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/nlaetwckxiizf1edacnw","title":"Sutter inducted into Hall of Fame","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-inducted-into-hall-of-fame"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Even though his time with the Braves was mostly marred by injuries -- he had just 40 saves and a 4.55 ERA -- he is still remembered throughout baseball as a selfless person and a strong teammate to those around him.\n\nBruce and I spent a lot of time together, and I was as close to him as any teammate I ever played with, said Kaat, who spent seven decades in and around Major League Baseball as a player, coach and broadcaster.