The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inducted 15 individuals and one college’s teams’ record-breaking era on Sunday. The 2007 class featured sports figures from diverse sports backgrounds. 2007 inductees include Bruce Sutter (Baseball), Walt Jocketty (Baseball), Curtis McClinton (Football), Jim Eisenreich (Baseball), Jay Randolph (Sportscaster), Pat Leahy (Football – Soccer), Erma M. Bergmann "Bergie" (Amateur Softball and Professional Baseball Player), Gene McArtor (Baseball), Ron Zetcher (Sports Officiating), Russ Sloan (Football Coach), Brian McReynolds (Swimming Coach), Doug Potts (Football Coach), Bill Ross (Basketball and Golf Coach), Mark Curp (Long Distance Runner), Lou Adamie ("Mr. Scoreboard"), Newton S. Hillyard (John Q. Hammons Founders Award), and the 1941-48 Missouri Valley College football teams.
Below are highlights on just a few members of the 2007 class.
Bruce Sutter was among 15 individuals inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday. In 2006, Sutter was the only member voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, he also became the first pitcher ever inducted to never start a game.
It was Sutter’s ability to revolutionize the split-finger fastball that helped him become one of baseball’s top relief pitchers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sutter played 12 seasons in the Majors for three different teams – Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves. He led the National League in saves five times and ranks 19 th on the all-time saves list with 300.
Adding to his long list of achievements, Sutter was named the NL Cy Young winner with the Cubs in 1979. He was the closer for the Cardinals during their 1982 World Series campaign, and was credited for the save in the series-clinching game 7.
AUDIO: Bruce Sutter (1:00 MP3)
AUDIO: Curtis McClinton (:30 MP3)
AUDIO: Jim Eisenreich (1:30 MP3)
AUDIO: Walt Jocketty (1:00 MP3)