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RIP Don Sutton. A great pitcher and a great Braves broadcaster. https://twitter.com/lifeisgreatsut/status/1351640873377779715
Sutton was born in Clio, Alabama, but raised in the Pensacola, Fla., area.
He was one of 13 Baseball Hall of Famers born in the state of Alabama.
He was one of 13 Baseball Hall of Famers born in the state of Alabama.
Sutton pitched for Tate High School in Pensacola around the same time Ken Stabler was starring at Foley. At some point, a story began circulating that Stabler beat Sutton for his only high school loss. It showed up in a few books about Stabler, but Sutton claimed it wasn’t true.
The way the story was told, Foley won 1-0. Stabler struck out 16, Sutton struck out 14.
I have searched many times trying to find a contemporary newspaper account of the game, but have not succeeded.
I have searched many times trying to find a contemporary newspaper account of the game, but have not succeeded.
I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but Sutton, at least, denied it. He said he lost many times in high school and didn't remember facing Stabler.
I’ll keep looking, because it’s a fascinating story if true.
I’ll keep looking, because it’s a fascinating story if true.
Attached are 2 Pensacola News-Journal clips from 1963, Sutton’s senior year at Tate. One says he was 10-1 as a junior, 3-1 against Pensacola High. The other says he evened his 1963 record to 2-2. So even if he did lose to Stabler, it wasn’t his “only loss.”
Would love to know where that Stabler-Sutton story came from. My guess is it came from Stabler (or someone close to Stabler) and the original reporter never bothered to check it out. It’s been told & re-told so many times that it’s become legend.
