Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame along with 17 Negro League Players

Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame along with 17 Negro League Players

Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter is elected to the Hall of Fame. With 75% of the votes cast by BBWAA members needed for election. Sutter receives 76.9%, slugger Jim Rice is second with 64.8%, followed by reliever Goose Gossage at 64.6%. Sutter, who is credited with perfecting the split-fingered fastball, which is a pitch many major leaguers use in some form today, joins Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley as the only relief pitchers in Cooperstown. In a special election, seventeen Negro Leagues figures are also elected: Ray Brown, Willard Brown, Andy Cooper, Frank Grant, Pete Hill, Biz Mackey, Effa Manley, Jose Mendez, Alex Pompez, Cum Posey, Louis Santop, Mule Suttles, Ben Taylor, Cristóbal Torriente, Sol White, J.L. Wilkinson, and Jud Wilson. Manley is the first woman ever elected to the Hall, and the 18 inductees are the largest class in the Hall’s history.

Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Arky Vaughan and Hoyt Wilhelm are inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York

Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Arky Vaughan and Hoyt Wilhelm are inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York

Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Arky Vaughan and Hoyt Wilhelm are inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Wilhelm is the first pitcher to be inducted because of his role as a reliever.

Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm gain election to the Hall of Fame

Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm gain election to the Hall of Fame

    On January 7, 1985, Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. During his career, Brock established the record for the most stolen bases in major league history when he Ty Cobb’s record for stolen bases in 1977 with 893 career steals…

Kansas City Royals release veteran reliever Lindy McDaniel

Kansas City Royals release veteran reliever Lindy McDaniel

On January 3, 1977, the Kansas City Royals release veteran reliever Lindy McDaniel, ending his 21-year career. McDaniel won 141 games and posted 172 saves in stints with the Royals, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals. He has appeared in 987 games, second only to Hoyt Wilhelm‘s 1,070. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@

Los Angeles Dodgers release longtime major league pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm
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Los Angeles Dodgers release longtime major league pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm

On July 21, 1972, the Los Angeles Dodgers release longtime major league pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, ending the career of the 48-year-old right-hander, two days before his 49th birthday. A 21-year veteran, Wilhelm retires with 1070 appearances the most of any major league pitcher to that point. 227 saves and 143 victories. He is also the…

Hoyt Wilhelm of the Atlanta Braves becomes the first pitcher in major league history to appear in 1,000 games
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Hoyt Wilhelm of the Atlanta Braves becomes the first pitcher in major league history to appear in 1,000 games

    On May 10, 1970, Hoyt Wilhelm of the Atlanta Braves becomes the first pitcher in major league history to appear in 1,000 games. Wilhelm, who will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1985, pitches a scoreless inning of relief during a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The 47 year-old…

Hoyt Wilhelm breaks Cy Youngs record for appearances with 907

Hoyt Wilhelm breaks Cy Youngs record for appearances with 907

On July 24, 1968, Hoyt Wilhelm of the Chicago White Sox appears in the 907th game of his career, breaking Cy Young’s record for most appearances. The future Hall of Famer pitches a scoreless inning of relief and picks up a no-decision in Chicago’s 1-0 loss to the Oakland A’s. he 45 year-old knuckleballer, who…