Former Montreal Expos infielder Gary Sutherland passes away.
Photo credit: Canadian Baseball Network
Former major league infielder Gary Sutherland passed away on December 16 at age 80. His obituary was provided by a Monrovia, California funeral home.
Sutherland debuted during his age-21 season. He appeared in parts of three seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies lost him to the Montreal Expos in the 1968 expansion draft.
He was never a star baseball player, but he played a significant role in the history of the Montreal Expos franchise.
As the Expos starting second baseman in their inaugural game in April 1969, he reached base on an error and scored the first run in team history.
He played three years for the Expos, hitting .234/.287/.299 over 368 games.
The Expos dealt Sutherland to the Houston Astros after the 1971 season.
He barely played over two years in Houston before he was on the move again.
The Detroit Tigers acquired him during the 1973-74 offseason.
Sutherland took a career-high 672 plate appearances during his first season in Detroit.
He hit 20 doubles with a .254/.282/.313 showing. He played three years in Detroit. Sutherland finished his playing career with brief stints between Milwaukee, San Diego and St. Louis.
Over a 13-year playing career, Sutherland picked up 754 hits with a .243/.291/.308 batting line. He appeared in more than 1000 major league games between seven teams.
After retiring, he scouted for several MLB teams and was a special assistant to the general manager for the Los Angeles Angels.
BlueJaysCentral.com sends condolences to his family, loved ones and friends.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 27 | 340 ANSWERS Former Montreal Expos infielder Gary Sutherland passes away. Do you miss the Montreal Expos? | ||
| Yes | 255 | 75 % |
| No | 85 | 25 % |
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