Suds Sutherland
Encyclopedia
Harvey Scott "Suds" Sutherland (February 20, 1894 - May 11, 1972) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Detroit Tigers
in 1921. Born in Beaverton, Oregon
, Sutherland started playing in the Pacific Coast League
. In 1919, he pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Seals. http://www.oregonstadiumcampaign.com/history_oregon.htm In 1921, he got his shot at the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers
. Sutherland came to the Tigers during the Spring of 1921, just as Ty Cobb
was taking over as the manager for the Tigers. The Tigers team of 1921 was a hard-hitting team (they had a team batting average of .316), but they were in dire need of pitching. Sutherland seized the opportunity, and in the first two months of his rookie season, Sutherland compiled a 6-2 record in 8 starts. On top of his fine pitching, Sutherland compiled a .407 batting average in 29 at bats in the first two months of the season. Sutherland's pitching career came to an abrupt end on June 12, 1921, as Sutherland found himself in the middle of the Babe Ruth
-Ty Cobb
feud. In the fifth inning of a game against the Yankees, Babe Ruth
reportedly hit a 3-0 pitch off Sutherland into the upper deck. Cobb ran in from center field and took his anger out on the rookie pitcher. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Suds_Sutherland
The Tigers' pitching staff gave up six home runs to the Babe during the four-game series in June 1921:
Perhaps because Sutherland was a rookie, Sutherland took the brunt of Cobb's anger. Even though Sutherland had the team's best win-loss record at 6-2, Cobb never forgave Sutherland for giving up a mammoth blast to the Babe. As a result, Sutherland did not pitch for the Tigers after June 21, 1921.
Sutherland died in Portland, Oregon
in 1972 at age 78. He was laid to rest at Pioneer Cemetery in Portland.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1921. Born in Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, Sutherland started playing in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 1919, he pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Seals. http://www.oregonstadiumcampaign.com/history_oregon.htm In 1921, he got his shot at the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Sutherland came to the Tigers during the Spring of 1921, just as Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
was taking over as the manager for the Tigers. The Tigers team of 1921 was a hard-hitting team (they had a team batting average of .316), but they were in dire need of pitching. Sutherland seized the opportunity, and in the first two months of his rookie season, Sutherland compiled a 6-2 record in 8 starts. On top of his fine pitching, Sutherland compiled a .407 batting average in 29 at bats in the first two months of the season. Sutherland's pitching career came to an abrupt end on June 12, 1921, as Sutherland found himself in the middle of the Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
-Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
feud. In the fifth inning of a game against the Yankees, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
reportedly hit a 3-0 pitch off Sutherland into the upper deck. Cobb ran in from center field and took his anger out on the rookie pitcher. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Suds_Sutherland
The Tigers' pitching staff gave up six home runs to the Babe during the four-game series in June 1921:
- 6/11/1921: Jim MiddletonJim MiddletonJames Blaine "Rifle Jim" Middleton was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of two seasons with the New York Giants and Detroit Tigers...
gave up a home run to Ruth in the 7th inning in Detroit. - 6/12/1921: Rookie Suds Sutherland gave up a home run to Ruth in the 5th inning in Detroit.
- 6/13/1921: Veteran Howard EhmkeHoward EhmkeHoward Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35...
gave up two home runs to Ruth in the 3rd and 7th innings. - 6/14/1921: Veteran Hooks DaussHooks DaussGeorge August "Hooks" Dauss was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed 'Hooks' or 'Hookey' because of his hard-to-hit curveball...
gave up two home runs to Ruth in the 1st and 3rd innings.
Perhaps because Sutherland was a rookie, Sutherland took the brunt of Cobb's anger. Even though Sutherland had the team's best win-loss record at 6-2, Cobb never forgave Sutherland for giving up a mammoth blast to the Babe. As a result, Sutherland did not pitch for the Tigers after June 21, 1921.
Sutherland died in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1972 at age 78. He was laid to rest at Pioneer Cemetery in Portland.