Bruce Sutter, Hall of Famer and Cy Young winner, dies at 69

Hall of Fame pitcher and Cy Young winner Bruce Sutter has passed away, Major League Baseball announced on Friday. He was 69.

Sutter was recently diagnosed with cancer and died Thursday night in hospice, surrounded by his family, one of Sutter’s three sons, Chad, told The Associated Press. The Baseball Hall of Fame said Bruce Sutter died in Cartersville, Georgia.

"All our father ever wanted to be remembered as was being a great teammate, but he was so much more than that," said a statement from Sutter's family. "He was also a great husband to our mother for 50 yrs, he was a great father and grandfather and he was a great friend. His love and passion for the game of baseball can only be surpassed by his love and passion for his family."

Sutter was a dominant closer who revolutionized the split-fingered fastball. His 12-year major league career began in 1976 with the Chicago Cubs and made a name for himself as a multi-inning reliever.

He was the fourth reliever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Bruce was the first pitcher to reach the Hall of Fame without starting a game, and he was one of the key figures who foreshadowed how the use of relievers would evolve,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday in a statement. “Bruce will be remembered as one of the best pitchers in the histories of two of our most historic franchises.”

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During his career, Sutter totaled 300 saves to rank third on baseball's all-time list at the time of his retirement. Sutter led the Senior Circuit in saves consecutively 1979-82 and again in 1984. He also received the Rolaids Relief Man Award four times.

The reliever won the Cy Young in 1979, the season where he had 37 saves, 2.22 ERA and 110 strikeouts. He joined the St. Louis Cardinals and played with them from 1981 to 1984. There, he won a World Series in 1982, ending Game 7 against the Brewers with a strikeout.

His last save, No. 300, came with the Atlanta Braves in 1988. Sutter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

“Bruce was a fan-favorite during his years in St. Louis and in the years to follow, and he will always be remembered for his 1982 World Series clinching save and signature split-fingered pitch," said Cardinals’ principal owner and chief executive officer Bill DeWitt, Jr. "He was a true pioneer in the game, changing the role of the late inning reliever.”

He is survived by his wife, Jayme, sons Josh, Chad and Ben; daughter-in-law Amanda Sutter, and his six grandchildren.

Contributing: Associated Press

Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Sutter, Hall of Famer and Cy Young winner, dies at 69