(I've skipped 13 deaths since July 1st, but this one was one of my hometown faves back in the day.)
Gary Sutherland, a middle infielder for the Phillies, Expos, and Tigers, passed away on December 16, 2024 at age 80.
Pictured above is my first Gary Sutherland card, which I pulled from a pack in early-1968. As a young Phillies fan, besides the usual choices of Johnny Callison and Richie Allen, I also liked Sutherland - maybe because on this card he didn't look much older than I was at the time. (He was).
Sutherland's rookie season was 1967, and he platooned at both shortstop and left field for much of that season. After riding the bench in '68, he was drafted by the expansion Expos and was their regular 2nd baseman in their first season.
After 2 seasons as a part-time player, Gary was traded to the Astros, then made his way to the Tigers, where he regained a starting role in '74 and '75.
Sutherland bounced around to the Brewers, Padres, and Cardinals at the end of his career.
After his playing career, he worked in the Angels' front office.
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