We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Jamye, and his children.. But first, check out this splitter from Masahiro Tanaka and tell me it isn't awesome: Tanaka's splitter hits the triple crown of traits for what a dominant pitch should exhibitgood velocity, generates ground balls, and gets whiffs. When this pitch is thrown, your thumb should rotate upward, and your middle finger should snap downward while your index finger points in the direction of your target. .mHQYb .p-search__list--sm{font-size:12px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ @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;}/*!sc*/ Feller/Billy Wagner's Fastball At 55 feet the ball dropped clear out of the strike zone. There was a time, in the late 1970s, when the split-finger pitch thrown by Cubs closer Bruce Sutter baffled nearly every batter who tried to hit it. And he'd throw the fastball just enough to keep them guessing. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side .header__subnav__group-title{padding:14px 10px;}/*!sc*/ A split-finger fastball is thrown with the same arm-action of a regular fastball, but the pitcher's index and middle finger are spread wide to cradle the ball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--mobile-quick-nav{display:inline;}/*!sc*/ Throw the palm-side wrist of the throwing hand directly at the target. pic.twitter.com/BjxKBnK0Lw. It also slightly reduces the speed of the pitch, which is why most two-seamers register about 1 to 3 mph slower than four-seam fastballs. LOUIS -- Bruce Sutter, the Hall of Famer who revolutionized the closer position and the split-fingered fastball and clinched the St. Louis Cardinals' 1982 World Series title 40 years ago this week, passed away at the age of 69 near his home in Cartersville, Ga., on Thursday. Everyone was throwing that pitch, said Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, who was a catcher for the Dodgers in the 1980s. 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. He became the first pitcher enshrined who had never started a MLB game. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ We obviously sat in the bullpen together for many, many hours and he was a great teammate and an even greater friend.\n\nHe was one who didnt have any trouble forgetting \\[a bad outing\\]. data-styled.g114[id="sc-bdfBwQ"]{content:"mHQYb,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team + .p-search-item--player.p-search-item--es:before{content:'Jugadores';}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.hUHmCp > article{margin:auto;max-width:967px;}.hUHmCp > article > section{grid-column:1 / span 8;}.hUHmCp > article > aside{display:block;grid-column:9 / 13;}}/*!sc*/ body.article{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;background-color:#ffffff;line-height:1.5;}/*!sc*/ He would win both awards again in 1981, 1982 and 1984. .mHQYb .p-search-item__info{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;}/*!sc*/ .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*/ DID YOU KNOW? When it did, I didnt think it would affect me or hit me as hard as it did, but it sure did.. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .account--logged-in.active::after{background:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ That's higher than the average of 69 and the median of 51 for all pitchers, so perhaps splitter throwers are more likely to have major surgery. .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 .header__nav-top__secondary-logos img{max-height:56px;max-width:none;}/*!sc*/ Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter, World Series champion, dead at 69 In every year from 1978 through 1981, Sutter either won or saved the All-Star Game for the National League. Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week. .mHQYb .p-search__input--sm{font-size:12px;height:30px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ 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. .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*/ There's some selection bias in that I've picked pitchers whose arms have been able to handle the splitter to some extent. .hHLkAw input::-ms-clear{display:none;}/*!sc*/ I call it the horseshoe seam simply because the seam itself looks like the shape of a horseshoe. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-display:fallback;}/*!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. A very sophisticated and misunderstood point is that the split-fingered fastball should be thrown with back spin just like a two-seam fastball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.15);background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ He finished with a 1.34 (!) 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. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__league{margin-bottom:5px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in.active::after{opacity:1;}/*!sc*/ The final installment of $9.1 million reportedly was paid to him in 2021. His split-finger pitch was almost unhittable for a while. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item{color:#222222;background-color:#ffffff;font-size:14px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. .jDETbc{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:40px;color:#222222;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ .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*/ Remember to slightly cock your wrist, but don't stiffen it. .eJdqRG a{color:#057AFF;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g141[id="sharestyle__Wrapper-sc-9nfkvu-1"]{content:"blUWSx,"}/*!sc*/ Grip As mentioned above, a splitter is thrown with a pitcher's two fingers split apart by the baseball. .ggWmAj .sticky-header__header{grid-column:1 / span 8;}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter was so honored when he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006, and since that time his kindness, his love for Cooperstown and his humility sparkled every time he returned to the Hall of Fame, said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. 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. After his retirement, he focused on raising his family. Throw this pitch with the same arm speed and body mechanics as a fastball, only slightly turn the ball over by throwing the circle to the target. 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). Do you know how to throw a split-finger fastball? In all, there were 401 days missed. Herzog, also a National Baseball Hall of Famer and a Cardinals Hall of Famer, credited the addition of Sutter as being the missing piece of St. Louis championship team. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.locale,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.search{display:none;}/*!sc*/ b,strong{font-weight:bolder;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__team-logo--container{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;margin-left:auto;}/*!sc*/ Next, place your thumb directly beneath the baseball, resting on the smooth leather (as shown in the picture on the right). Obviously, this isn't the full picture. As mentioned above, a splitter is thrown with a pitcher's two fingers split apart by the baseball. .hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container{margin-top:64px;}/*!sc*/ 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. .cwEpxl{height:100%;width:100%;border:transparent;background:none;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:0.2s;transition:0.2s;padding:0px;}/*!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. The pitch not only led him to the Major Leagues, but also made him a Cy Young Award winner with the Cubs and a World Series Champion with the 1982 Cardinals. Jim Thome said he is definitely seeing fewer and fewer of them in year No. Splitter pioneer Sutter dead at 69 2022-10-15 - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . Bruce Sutter introduced the pitch in. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. .hHLkAw{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ .jiNMQU{background:#f3f3f3;padding-top:56.25%;position:relative;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ legend{box-sizing:border-box;color:inherit;display:table;max-width:100%;padding:0;white-space:normal;}/*!sc*/ .ebrWqN:-moz-loading{color:#f3f3f3;}/*!sc*/ .hHLkAw input{position:relative;font-size:15px;line-height:32px;color:#444444;font-weight:400;height:32px;padding:0 8px;width:100%;background-color:#ffffff;border-radius:5px;border:1px solid #444444;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ body.side-nav-open{max-height:100vh;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;position:fixed;top:0;width:100vw;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ 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.. window.appId = '' [hidden]{display:none;}/*!sc*/ But if you throw the fastball overhand with enough force, it will appear to rise because it's not dropping as much as the batter's brain thinks it should. .kwDmpG input{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav--transparent{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.7);width:calc(100vw - 145px);}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0 16px 0 0;font-size:14px;font-weight:bold;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}/*!sc*/ Splitter vs. Changeup: The Timing-Killer Pitches of Baseball Sutter rarely threw his splitter for a strike, but it was difficult for hitters to lay off. @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*/ .koKsQt{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ The pitch that looks like a fastball but falls off the table at the last second was revolutionizing the game, reviving careers and tormenting the unlucky guys standing in the batters box. Mike Roarke, a Cubs coach from 1978-80 and a Cardinals coach from 1984-90, became something of a personal pitching coach for Sutter and his split-fingered fastball.\n\nHe 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. data-styled.g157[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Title-sc-d7sh2p-2"]{content:"ihHuHi,"}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__link{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ abbr[title]{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration:underline dotted;text-decoration:underline dotted;}/*!sc*/ And those who still use it do so cautiously. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). The deeper the grip, the more friction that is created on the ball, which takes off velocity. data-styled.g11[id="buttonstyle__StyledButton-sc-vlv7w5-1"]{content:"hspSPq,"}/*!sc*/ Closer had a different connotation back then; Sutter would often pitch two or more innings at the end of games. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb img{margin:auto;}/*!sc*/ He can tell you it's coming. 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. main{display:block;}/*!sc*/ Place index and middle fingers on the outside of the horseshoe seam. If you have larger hands the pitch is most effective because it should be "choked" deep in the hand. .ggWmAj .sticky-header__share{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row-reverse;-ms-flex-direction:row-reverse;flex-direction:row-reverse;grid-column:9 / 13;}/*!sc*/ 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. He is a member of both teams Halls of Fame. The split finger was a dominant pitch for Ron Darling on the 1986 World Champion New York Mets staff. 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. Because of its deceptively slower velocity and sharp drop, a splitter is designed to get the hitter's bat ahead of the pitch and induce weak contact. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item .icon__nav-item{margin-right:8px;width:18px;height:14px;float:left;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/ Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. 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. To the Cardinals, his teammates and, most importantly, the greatest fans in all of sports, we thank you for all of the love and support over the years. It also was one of the stars of October, with power throwers such as Clemens, Morris and Oaklands Dave Stewart riding it to World Series glory. During his career, he fought through devastating elbow and shoulder injuries and underwent three surgeries, yet retained his calm demeanor and ability to stay poised under pressure as he became the first pitcher to lead the National League in saves five times. a{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ .epHHrr{text-align:center;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu--open{display:block;left:auto;opacity:1;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g10[id="buttonstyle__Label-sc-vlv7w5-0"]{content:"iwXciG,"}/*!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. .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*/ 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. When thrown with the effort of a fastball, the splitter will drop sharply as it nears home plate. Its not necessarily the pitch. He added, Im for anything thats going to make a guy successful and give him a chance to play in the big leagues.. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{background:#ffffff;border-top:solid 4px #002867;box-shadow:0 2px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.2);box-shadow:6px 6px 15px -3px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);left:-99em;opacity:0;padding:10px;position:absolute;right:0;-webkit-transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;transition:opacity 1ms ease 1ms;width:160px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g21[id="imagestyle__Img-sc-xw1tzz-1"]{content:"ebrWqN,iQELft,"}/*!sc*/ I consider Bruce the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of the game. .blLcNM .content .share-btn{-webkit-align-self:flex-end;-ms-flex-item-align:end;align-self:flex-end;margin-left:auto;min-width:32px;position:relative;top:-16px;}/*!sc*/ sub{bottom:-0.25em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g161[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Submit-sc-d7sh2p-6"]{content:"huJzbO,"}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__link--message-icon{width:10px;margin-right:5px;}/*!sc*/ .ezZJVn:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ The call answered a question that had been ongoing for 13 years, a question quite frankly I would ask myself every year at election time: Do you belong? said Sutter. .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__nav-item{display:none;-webkit-flex:1 1 100%;-ms-flex:1 1 100%;flex:1 1 100%;position:relative;text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side{display:none;}}/*!sc*/
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