SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 43

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5660L.01I

AN ACT

Relating to the declaration of Bruce Sutter Day in Missouri.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Whereas, on January 10, 2006, it was with great delight that the people of Missouri learned of the election of St. Louis Cardinals great Bruce Sutter into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York; and

            Whereas, Bruce Sutter, the 1979 National League Cy Young Award winner, joined the Cardinals for the 1981 season when the ball club went from a middle-of-the-road team to a championship contender; and

            Whereas, Bruce Sutter will forever be remembered by Missourians for his strikeout of Milwaukee Brewers slugger Gorman Thomas to clinch the 1982 World Championship for the Redbirds, the first World Title for the team in fifteen years. This image of Bruce being bear-hugged by his gleeful catcher Darrell Porter after the strikeout is one of the most vivid in the annals of Missouri sport; and

            Whereas, Bruce Sutter finished his Cardinals career in 1984 with arguably the best individual season any relief pitcher has recorded. In that campaign, Mr. Sutter saved 45 games, struck out 77 batters in 122 innings and recorded a terrific 1.54 earned run average; and

            Whereas, Bruce Sutter often pitched more than one inning at a time, and more than 60 to 70 innings in a season - topping 100 innings 5 times. Mr. Sutter averaged just under 98 innings in relief from 1976 to 1985, tallying 283 of his 300 saves. Those type of innings are almost unheard of from relievers, especially closers; and

            Whereas, Bruce Sutter becomes only the fourth reliever inducted into the Hall of Fame and the first pitcher in the Hall of Fame who never started a single major league game:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby declare July 30, 2006, as "Bruce Sutter Day" in Missouri and congratulate Bruce, his wife Jamie, and his sons Josh, Chad, and Ben.

            Be it further resolved that this resolution be sent to the Governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.