Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter headlines IPMR Night

PEORIA, IL -- The Peoria Chiefs and the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation have announced that Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter will headline the 6th annual IPMR Legend at the Ballpark night on Saturday, June 14 as the Chiefs take on the Burlington Bees at 6:30 pm.

Sutter won the National League Cy Young Award in 1979 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He is credited with revolutionizing the split-fingered fastball ad he emerged as a dominant closer in the late 70s.

Originally drafted by the Washington Senators in the 21st round of the 1970 draft, Sutter signed with the Cubs as a free agent in September of 1971. He pitched in the Midwest League with the Quincy Cubs in 1973 and debuted with the Chicago Cubs in 1976. In five seasons in the Friendly Confines, Sutter went 32-30 with 133 saves. He won the 1979 Cy Young with a 6-6 record, 2.22 ERA and 37 saves in 62 appearances.

Sutter was traded from Chicago to St. Louis on Dec. 9, 1980 for Ken Reitz and Leon Durham, and he played in St. Louis for four seasons. Sutter was 2-0 with four saves in the 1982 playoffs and struck out Gorman Thomas for the World Series clinching out at Busch Stadium.

In his four Cardinals season, Sutter was 26-30 with 127 saves. He saved a career-high and then-NL-record 45 games in 1984 with a 1.84 ERA.

Sutter signed with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent prior to the 1985 season. In his final three seasons, all in Atlanta, he was 10-11 with 40 saves before retiring due to an arm injury with a career 2.84 ERA. Selected to six NL All-Star teams, Sutter finished in the top five of the Cy Young voting four times and won four NL Rolaids Relief Awards. He led the NL in saves five times (1979-82, 84) and is 21st on the career saves list with 300.

June 14 is the 6th annual IPMR Night, and past featured guests have included Whitey Herzog (2003), Hall of Famer Lou Brock (2004), Hall of Famer and current Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg (2005), Steve Stone (2006) and Cubs legend and radio announcer Ron Santo (2007). IPMR facilities are located all over the country, including Peoria, to help rehabbing patients that have suffered from serious injuries or harm.

The Legend at the Ballpark event takes place in the Pepsi Picnic Plaza at O'Brien Field and includes a pre-game presentation by Sutter along with a silent auction. Table sponsorships are available through the Rehabilitation Foundation of IPMR by calling 309-692-8110 ext. 694.

After throwing a first pitch, Sutter will sign autographs on the concourse for an hour for $30, cash only. All donations and proceeds from the autograph signing will benefit IPMR.