This Day In Dodgers History: Don Sutton Passes Don Drysdale For Most Wins

Don Sutton moved into first place on the Dodgers’ all-time wins list by passing Don Drysdale. Sutton earned the lead with an eight-inning win as Los Angeles defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 at Riverfront Stadium on May 20, 1979. By that point in the season, Sutton improved to 5-3 with a 2.85 ERA over nine starts, including at least seven innings in eight outings and five or more strikeouts in five. He finished 1979 with a 12-15 record, 3.82 ERA, and 1.16 WHIP over 33 games. Sutton later played for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and California Angels before returning to the Dodgers for a final season in 1988. He debuted in 1966, spent 16 of 23 MLB seasons with Los Angeles, and finished atop the franchise with 233 wins, along with Dodgers records in innings pitched and shutouts.

"Sutton moved into first place by going eight innings to earn a win as the Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 6-4, at Riverfront Stadium on May 20, 1979. Sutton to that point in the season improved to 5-3 with a 2.85 ERA over nine starts. He had gone at least seven innings in eight of those outings, and had five or more strikeouts in five of them."

"Sutton went on to finish the 1979 season with a 12-15 record, 3.82 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 33 games (32 starts). He spent one more year with L.A. before singing with the Houston Astros as a free agent in December 1980. The famed right-hander also pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and then-California Angels, before returning to the Dodgers for a final season in 1988."

"Sutton made his MLB debut with the Dodgers as a 21-year-old in 1966 and ended up spending 16 of 23 Major League seasons with the team. He picked up three victories in 1988 and finished atop the Dodgers all-time wins list with 233. Clayton Kershaw is in second place with 212 career wins during his Dodgers career. Drysdale is third with 209, followed by Dazzy Vance at 190."

"Sutton is the Dodgers' all-time franchise leader in wins (233), innings pitched (3,816.1) and shutouts (52), and is tied with Drysdale for the second-most Opening Day starts (seven). Sutton additionally held the Dodgers strikeouts record until being passed by Clayton Kershaw during the 2022 season. Sutton was a four-time All-Star who pitched in three World Series (1974, 1977 and 1978)."

Read at Dodger Blue