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Don Sutton put together an impressive resume over 23 seasons in the @MLB & in 1998 was immortalized with an induction into the @baseballhall. His accomplishments in the Majors are well known, but few know the story of his first ever professional baseball game in the @MiLB.....
In September of 1964 the @Dodgers signed a 20 year old right-handed pitcher by the name of Don Sutton to his first pro contract. The Dodgers sent him to their Class C affiliate in the @CalLeague1, the Santa Barbara Dodgers, for the 1965 season where he began his pro career.....
Sunday, April 18th was opening day in the Cal League and the Santa Barbara Dodgers were playing at San Jose Municipal Stadium against the San Jose Bees ( @SJGiants). Dodger manager, Norm Sherry, sent Don Sutton to the mound as his opening day starter....
Sutton was lights out in his first ever pro game as he retired 19 of the first 20 batters he faced! He pitched a complete game and ended the night with 11 strikeouts and gave up no walks, leading his team to an 8 to 2 victory!....
As of his performance on the mound wasn’t enough, he went 2 for 2 at the plate with a single, double, 2 runs, and an RBI. He was the talk of the Cal League an put everyone on notice that he was the real deal....
His time in the Cal League with the Santa Barbara Dodgers was short as the @Dodgers promoted him to their AA team in Albuquerque after only 10 starts. He pitched 8 complete games and complied an 8-1 record with 101 Ks and an ERA OF 1.50....
The very next year, in 1966 Don Sutton was called up to the Majors and began his Hall of Fame career with the @Dodgers in the starting rotation with Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Claude Osteen....
Sutton’s career came full circle as he made a couple rehab appearances back in the @CalLeague1 with the Bakersfield Dodgers in his final season in 1988. His appearance brought record breaking sold out crowds to Sam Lynn Ballpark. The baseball world lost a legend and a great guy!
