Former major league infielder Gary Sutherland passed away on December 16 at age 80. His obituary was provided by a Monrovia, California funeral home.
Sutherland was an L.A.-area native who attended USC. He signed with the Phillies out of college. The right-handed infielder debuted during his age-21 season. He appeared in parts of three seasons for Philadelphia. The Phils lost him to the Expos in the 1968 expansion draft. Sutherland was the everyday second baseman on the inaugural Montreal team. He played three years for the Expos, hitting .234/.287/.299 over 368 games.
Montreal dealt Sutherland to the Astros after the ’71 season. He barely played over two years in Houston before he was on the move again. The Tigers acquired him during the 1973-74 offseason. Sutherland took a career-high 672 plate appearances during his first season in Detroit. He hit 20 doubles with a .254/.282/.313 showing. He played three years in Detroit. Sutherland finished his playing career with brief stints between Milwaukee, San Diego and St. Louis.
Over a 13-year playing career, Sutherland picked up 754 hits with a .243/.291/.308 batting line. He appeared in more than 1000 major league games between seven teams. Sutherland remained in the game after his playing days as a scout and worked as a special assistant in the Angels’ front office into the 2010s. MLBTR sends condolences to his family, loved ones and friends.
Suds was a steady second baseman with the Tigers in the mid-70s. That was the Tigers team that turned me onto baseball. As a kid, he was my Tiger favorite, #3 …… I was able to get so many autographs through those years but could never secure a Suds autograph. Devastated when the Tigers traded him to the Brew Crew for Pedro Garcia. Great memories. Wishes of peace and love to the entire family …. Rest in peace, Sudsy.
I always thought of him as “steady” too….those ’74 and ’75 Tigers needed him bad!! RIP, Gary!
I watched him play for the Phillies back in the late 60s, and then he was selected by the Expos in the expansion draft. It was probably pretty neat playing that inaugural season in Montreal at Jarry Park.
Sutherland recorded the first putout in a Major League regular season game in Canada on April 14, 1969. He was playing second base and caught a line drive off the bat of Lou Brock.
Interesting note on Sutherland in 1969: He started the season 2-32 with only two strikeouts. Lots of weak contact, I imagine. That’s a very ’60s thing for middle infielders.
My memory is really fading I guess. I have been a Phillies fan since Dick Allen was RoY. My childhood idol was Johnnie Callison (hero & MVP of the 64 AS game). I remember Clay, Cookie, Tony G, Bill White and Tony Taylor. I even remember Uke’s year+ on the team but I have a blank spot on Sutherland.
RIP Sir…. my apologies.
Cat Mando – That’s OK. He came up with Philly in ’67 & was one of the Phils drafted by Montreal (who also drafted Larry Jackson, but when he chose to retire, they took Bobby Wine instead). Sutherland’s time in Philly wasn’t particularly memorable, but his rookie card was one of those ’67 high numbers, so it’s a bit pricey.
I’m in the same generation. You can almost say that the Tigers began their rebuild with Gary Sutherland. The Tigers traded Dick McAuliff for Ben Oglivie and Sutherland took over 2B. He was solid and led the team in hits. I’m not sure why the Tigers traded Sutherland for Pedro Garcia. The high energy Pedro Garcia had a good year offensively his rookie year but his defense was always downright awful and he was never healthy.
My favorite player growing up was Ron LeFlore. Still is even though he let me down…
Well said…a true fan of the man and the game.
He must have not got drafted for Vietnam.
An incredibly good man. RIP, Gary.
He came and spoke at my Parrish (St. Isaac Jogues) in St. Clair Shores, MI. At the time, I had just started following the Tigers. He seemed a very nice man, and became one of my favorites. RIP.
-3.9 career WAR? That doesn’t seem right.
First second baseman in Expos history although he started the season 0-23 or something like that.
I have lots of his baseball cards,the one with him in an Astros helmet is pretty cool.
RIP Suds.
RIP Gary.
An original Expo which, in spite of their lousy record, must have been pretty cool. Good, steady player. RIP, Gary.
RIP
2024 Field of Dreams team:
C Jerry Grote
1B Orlando Cepeda
2B Gary Sutherland
3B Pete Rose
SS Bud Harrelson
LF Rickey Henderson
CF Willie Mays
RF Rocky Colavito
DH Rico Carty
3B Bill Melton
SP Luis Tiant
SP Ken Holtzman
SP Fernando Valenzuela
SP Don Gullet
SP Carl Erskin
RP Al McBean
RP Rudy May
RP Doug Bird
RP Joey Jay
RP Al Fitzmorris
Ed Kranepool for PH/1B. Also on the bench Bill Plummer (c), Jose DeLeon (SP), Sean Burroughs (OF), Merv Rettenmund (OF), Tony Scott (2B), Pat Zachary (RP), U.L. Washington (SS).
Whitey Herzog is the Manager and Jimy Wliams is the Bench Coach.
That is an excellent team, but they would be hard-pressed to win best-of-seven against the 2020 squad. Oh, that starting rotation!
2020 Field of Dreams Team:
C – Hal Smith
1B – Dick Allen (HOF)
2B – Joe Morgan (HOF)
3B – Denis Menke
SS – Tony Fernandez
LF – Lou Brock (HOF)
CF – Jimmy Wynn
RF – Al Kaline (HOF)
DH – Bob Watson
SP – Tom Seaver (HOF)
SP – Bob Gibson (HOF)
SP – Whitey Ford (HOF)
SP – Phil Niekro (HOF)
SP – Mike McCormick
RP – John Antonelli
RP – Lindy McDaniel
RP – Ron Perranoski
RP – Don Larsen
RP – Bob Miller (Whiz Kid version)
Reserves
C – Don Pavletich (sorry, Biff)
IF – Glenn Beckert, Frank Bolling, Horace Clarke, Tony Taylor
OF – Lou Johnson, Jay Johnstone, Claudell Washington
MGR – John McNamara
BENCH COACH – Eddie Kasko
STADIUM ANNOUNCER – Roy Steele, Oakland Coliseum (dubbed The Voice of God by John Miller).
C Jerry Grote
This is in response to GarryHarris above.
Also Ed Ott.
colonel flagg – Felix Milan disagrees with your choice.
El Kabong – I see what you did there!
I remember when Ed Ott ended Felix Milan’s career and that’s why he’s not even an honorable mention.
Condolences to his family n friends. RIP