Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 as the first pitcher without a single starting assignment to be elected. .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*/ h5.headlinestyle__HeadlineWrapper-sc-1ccyctx-0{font-weight:normal;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon{background:none;padding:0px;width:24px;height:18px;position:relative;margin:0px auto;-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg);-ms-transform:rotate(0deg);transform:rotate(0deg);-webkit-transition:0.5s ease-in-out;transition:0.5s ease-in-out;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ . data-styled.g21[id="imagestyle__Img-sc-xw1tzz-1"]{content:"ebrWqN,iQELft,"}/*!sc*/ One thing I did with this pitch in college and in professional baseball was to always throw my two-seam fastball to the throwing-hand side of the plate and my four seam fastball to the glove-hand side of the plate. He was 69 years old. It includes the Cubs coming back on the field to celebrate with fans, something rarely done in that era. He is a member of both teams Halls of Fame. 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 header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav .scroll-buffer,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav .scroll-buffer{padding-bottom:200px;}/*!sc*/ Whether or not that's true depends on a lot of things, of course, but the slider is certainly an effective pitch for those who can throw it correctly. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ button,input,optgroup,select,textarea{font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;line-height:1.15;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ 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. .evGxub{display:inline-block;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ They both had that same calm demeanor and could handle ninth innings. His first couple of minor league seasons didnt go well and then he landed with the Key West Conchs, a Class A affiliate of the Cubs in the Florida State League in 1974. The grip causes the ball to tumble quickly down in the strike zone, tempting hitters to chase it in the dirt. 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. .epHHrr{text-align:center;max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;}/*!sc*/ The Baseball Hall of Fame said Bruce Sutter died in Cartersville, Georgia. .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*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{padding:0 32px;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container{width:auto;min-width:50vw;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:56px;overflow:hidden;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container--initialized{overflow:visible;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-container__primary,.mHQYb header.mlb-header 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.header__nav-top{height:56px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top__nav-items{visibility:visible;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top{-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top,.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club].mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top{height:112px;}}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter, Hall of Fame Splitters (and Grip). .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header__login-menu{border-color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ One way to develop "fastball mechanics" but changeup speed is to practice throwing your changeup as you long toss (throwing beyond 90 feet). Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. How do you throw your pitches? The irony, of course, was that Sutter used a tailing fastball to strike out Thomas when it was the split-fingered fastball that helped him become one of the games most dynamic closers. OK, now that you've got your grip, hold the baseball deep in the palm of your hand to maximize friction and to "de-centralize" the force of the baseball when the pitch is released. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--logo{height:24px;width:24px;padding:2px 2px 2px 0;margin-right:2px;display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article .ad-top-right-container,.hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container{position:relative;margin-bottom:64px;min-height:250px;}/*!sc*/ article > header{padding:0 16px;}/*!sc*/ If you think about it, every five days, throwing it 25 times isnt too bad not abusing it.. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), I tried to bunt on him because I cant hit him, Reds catcher Johnny Bench said of Sutter in the Los Angeles Times in 1977. Another somewhat lesser-known bit of Cubs revenge against Sutter came in the final game of the 1984 season, after the Cubs had clinched the NL East title. 1. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item__link{width:100%;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;padding:14px;}/*!sc*/ .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*/ .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*/ He was just an amazing relief pitcher \\[who\\] was so good.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"1980-07-09T00:05:00Z","description":"7/8/80: Cubs pitcher Bruce Sutter fans the Tigers' Lance Parrish to earn the save in the NL's win in the 1980 All- Star Game","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:22","mp4AvcPlayback":null,"slug":"sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-home-team-id-160","title":"HBmig home_team_id: 160"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mmtax-no-pre-roll","title":"HBmig No Pre-roll on this clip"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-away-team-id-159","title":"HBmig away_team_id: 159"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"gamepk-67199","title":"1980/07/08 al@nl"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-feature","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_FEATURE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-112","title":"HBmig Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-vtp-1980","title":"HBmig 1980s"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-no-transcode","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_NO_TRANSCODE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-combined-media-state-media-archive","title":"HBmig MEDIA_ARCHIVE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-save","title":"HBmig Save"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"pitching","title":"pitching"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"all-star-game","title":"All-Star Game"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/jcghmk8p9sgzun2anyla","title":"Sutter saves All-Star Game","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"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.\" Herzog also predicted when Sutter left via free agency in 1984 that he would be 25 games dumber without his trusted closer to finish off games.\n\nI feel like people didnt realize how good he was until you managed him, Herzog raved. The two pitches are gripped in almost the same way, except a splitter is generally held with more ease and placed toward the top of the fingers. How To Grip And Throw A Knuckle Curveball. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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 .p-icon--login{width:35px;height:35px;}/*!sc*/ [type="search"]::-webkit-search-decoration{-webkit-appearance:none;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx{height:30px;position:relative;width:30px;}/*!sc*/ 10 moments that defined Sutter's career. Do you know how to throw a split-finger fastball? .blUWSx .share-icon__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav{background-color:#041E42;}/*!sc*/ This is called pronating your hand. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top > *{-webkit-order:0;-ms-flex-order:0;order:0;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:56px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;-webkit-flex:99 1 45%;-ms-flex:99 1 45%;flex:99 1 45%;}/*!sc*/ .drUhS rect{fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ .dMKvOx{line-height:1.2;}/*!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*/ .kKeedG{color:#057AFF;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom:none;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ If your wrist is slightly cocked to the throwing hand's thumb side, your wrist-snap will enable you to have the pitch come off of the thumb-side of your index finger, which, in turn, promotes good spin on the ball. Every young kid who dreams of pitching in the major leagues has imagined himself striking out the batter to end the seventh game of the World Series, Sutter said. @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*/ Build functional strength the right way. It was his 13th time on the ballot, and the player who had once known for taking the mound with little emotion was suddenly overcome. 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. Sutter was killing everybody with the splitter because hitters had never seen anything like it . Splitters account for only a little more than one percent of all pitches, and several organizations have gone so far as to forbid young players from learning the splitter. In every year from 1978 through 1981, Sutter either won or saved the All-Star Game for the National League. data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!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 .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a{height:56px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb img{margin:auto;}/*!sc*/ Here is his Hall of Fame speech: Sincere condolences to Sutters family, friends and many fans. Sutter's splitter reason for Fame. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He pitched in only 16 games in 1986 and didnt pitch after May 27. However, as with all off-speed pitches, the arm speed and mechanics of your pitching delivery have to be the same as your fastball. He allowed a career-low three home runs on the season en route to both the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and the Sporting News Fireman of the Year Award. After his retirement, he focused on raising his family. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-thumbnail{margin-top:auto;height:45px;}/*!sc*/ It bears mentioning that the time missed by de la Rosa and most of the time missed by Matsuzaka resulted from an injury suffered the prior year. That's because there is essentially no significant difference between a straight curveball and a beginners curveball, except for the finger placement of your index finger. 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.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"1982-10-21T00:05:00Z","description":"Bruce Sutter gets the final out in Game 7 as the Cardinals defeat the Brewers in the 1982 World Series","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:56","mp4AvcPlayback":null,"slug":"sutter-gets-final-out-in-82-ws-c19863867","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-away-team-id-158","title":"HBmig away_team_id: 158"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbmobile-application-highlight","title":"HBmig MLBMOBILE_APPLICATION_HIGHLIGHT"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-vtp-1980","title":"HBmig 1980s"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-no-transcode","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_NO_TRANSCODE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mmtax-shareable","title":"HBmig FB shareable (internal)"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"gamepk-67813","title":"1982/10/20 mil@stl"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-138","title":"St. Louis Cardinals"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-138","title":"HBmig 138"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-top-play","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_TOP_PLAY"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-combined-media-state-media-archive","title":"HBmig MEDIA_ARCHIVE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-save","title":"HBmig Save"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-home-team-id-138","title":"HBmig home_team_id: 138"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"final-play","title":"final play"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"world-series","title":"World Series"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/oqxxfgj4ovoozdnidoqq","title":"Cardinals win 1982 World Series","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-gets-final-out-in-82-ws-c19863867"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"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.\n\nBeing a St. Louis Cardinal was an honor he cherished deeply, Chad Sutter said. After compiling 133 saves for the Cubs -- the second-most in franchise history -- Sutter was acquired by Cards GM Whitey Herzog on Dec. 9, 1980, in exchange for slugger Leon Durham, third baseman Ken Reitz and player-to-be-named-later Ty Waller. 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. Bruce Sutter passed away today, aged 69, confirmed by the Cardinals official Twitter account: We are saddened over the passing of Bruce Sutter.Sutter was a dominant pitcher and a member of the '82 World Series Championship team.He is a member of both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Cardinals Hall of Fame.Our thoughts are with Bruce's family and friends. Bruce Sutter pitched for the Cardinals from 1981-1984 and saved Game 7 of the 1982 World Series. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .cHcHkC{font-size:1.2rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0;max-height:48px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;width:100%;-webkit-line-clamp:2;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;}/*!sc*/ He 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. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff') format('woff');font-style:normal;font-weight:800;font-display:fallback;}/*!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). .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team.p-search-item--es:first-of-type:before{content:'Equipos';}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!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. Cardinals third baseman Terry Pendleton threw home for a force at the plate, but then St. Louis catcher Glenn Brummers throw to first was wild and the winning run scored. 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. data-styled.g100[id="styles__SearchWidgetContainer-sc-1vorjk3-0"]{content:"fYCiRB,"}/*!sc*/ Odds & lines subject to change. He was as much a brother to me as a teammate as anyone could be.. We spent a lot of time together, and as happens when your careers end, you go your separate ways. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner::after{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g140[id="sharestyle__Label-sc-9nfkvu-0"]{content:"ezZJVn,"}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g142[id="Share-sc-1t9fdg-0"]{content:"koKsQt,"}/*!sc*/ .epHHrr.youtube iframe{max-width:100%;}/*!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*/ .jDETbc{font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:40px;color:#222222;margin:0;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g114[id="sc-bdfBwQ"]{content:"mHQYb,"}/*!sc*/ But as the years wore on and more pitchers adopted the splitter, it started to become apparent that it could have significant consequences. .hHLkAw input::placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ Great Split Finger Pitchers Tim Hudson and Carlos Zambrano throw splitters. ), Here's how it works: Grip a baseball leaving the index finger off like you were pointing at something. @media (min-width:768px){.cHcHkC{font-size:1.44rem;max-height:32px;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap;display:block;-webkit-line-clamp:none;-webkit-box-orient:inline-axis;}.cHcHkC::before,.cHcHkC::after{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. 2010 was a good year health-wise for splitter-throwing pitchers. The splitter comes in with tight rotation and good velocity and dives Some baseball pitchers may find it more helpful to place their index finger along the seam of the baseball since the index finger is the one from which the slider is thrown. Your knuckle will now point to your target instead of your index finger (in the beginners curve). data-styled.g167[id="Styles__StoryPartContainer-sc-1mfrmm0-0"]{content:"groqnz,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb body.side-nav-open{position:fixed;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;}/*!sc*/ Martin taught Sutter the split-fingered fastball a variation of the much older forkball which Sutter picked up quickly. .groqnz.markdown.youtube,.groqnz.photo figcaption.youtube,.groqnz.oembed .social-embed.youtube{padding:0;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button-menu{-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ I always felt like he was a brother. The splitter evolved from the forkball. When Bruce would get a little off kilter mechanically, hed bring in Mike to help him and hed get it back.\n\nSutter failed to convert a save in his final outing of the 1984 season, leaving him tied with Royals closer Dan Quisenberry for the then-MLB record of 45 saves. .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*/ The Washington Senators selected Sutter in the 21st round of the 1970 draft, but because he was not yet 18 years old he was unable to sign a contract. .epHHrr iframe{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ 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." Every baseball player wants to be remembered, Sutter said, whether its for a pitch or a play or a season.. 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. Using the pitch that replicated a fastball before dropping out of the strike zone, Sutter racked up 31 saves in his first full season in 1977, 27 more in 78 and 37 in 79 with a 2.22 ERA to beat out Joe Niekro for the Cy Young Award. Bruce will be remembered as one of the best pitchers in the histories of two of our most historic franchises. He was 69. 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-items--spillover{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Sutter began closing games late in the 1976 season and posted 10 saves. And I could bring him in with the bases loaded and hed go down 3-0 and hed still not walk a hitter. It was made popular by future Hall of Fame relief pitcher Bruce Sutter, who dumbfounded hitters with a brutal splitter as a closer in the late '70s through the 1980s. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team{width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ The thumb is along the seam of the bottom, on the back seam. Sutter, the first pitcher inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame without having started a game, compiled 300 saves and a dazzling 2.83 ERA over 12 seasons with the Cubs, Cardinals and Braves. Still, it doesn't appear that pitchers who are throwing a splitter are at a higher risk of injury than pitchers who do not. Ted Williams once said that a slider was "the best pitch in baseball." The baseball should be tucked comfortably against the circle. 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 header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight{background-color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ h1{font-size:2em;margin:0.67em 0;}/*!sc*/ .drUhS path{fill:#000000;}/*!sc*/ The middle finger and index finger will be spread out on the outside of the baseball seams that create the horseshoe shape. Using the pitch that replicated a fastball before dropping out of the strike zone, Sutter racked up 31 saves in his first full season in 1977, 27 more in 78 and 37 in 79 with a 2.22 ERA to beat out Joe Niekro for the Cy Young Award. He was a true pioneer in the game, changing the role of the late inning reliever.. .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*/ This is why I recommend that you spend a few weeks preferably during the off-season working on tucking your index finger into the baseball. Few pitchers in major league history have ever had better command of the bottom of the strike zone. Here's a splitter from Ubaldo Jimenez that makes Torii Hunter chase out of the zone: One of the big misconceptions in baseball is that playing the game keeps you in shape to pitch.