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Bruce Sutter has died at the young age of 69.

A statistical look at each MLB franchise's biggest play

http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=34910585

CHICAGO CUBS

The play: Ben Zobrists RBI double in the top of the 10th that put Chicago up 7-6 against Cleveland in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

The math: This play increased Chicago's chance of winning that years championship by 31.27%.

Details: Seeking their first title in 108 years, the Cubs had blown a 5-1 lead when they came to the plate in the 10th. Zobrists hit not only put them ahead to stay, it also moved a runner to third with one out, and that man later scored. Chicago ultimately won 8-7.

The run that Zobrist's double scored was by Albert Almora who was pinch running for Kyle Schwarber who had singled.  Anthony Rizzo moved to third.  Addison Russell was intentionally walked followed by Miguel Montero's ground ball single to left scoring Rizzo.

Just read that Dick Ellsworth died last month——a few days before Bruce Sutter’s passing. For obvious reasons, Sutter got a lot of attention but did not hear about Ellsworth until recently. He was 82.

So, here’s my Dick Ellsworth story. I collect autographed baseballs but could not find a signed Ellsworth ball anywhere, which was annoying since he was a favorite of mine when I first became a Cubs fan. So, a couple of years ago, I googled him and discovered that he was still working at a real estate company in his hometown of Fresno. Company website had his email. So, I emailed him and asked if I could send him a baseball for him to autograph. He responded and said, sure, and I asked if he could also write on the ball next to his signature “22-10, 2.11 ERA”—that was his great 1963 season when he had a better ERA+ than Koufax (who was MVP and CY in 1963).

Couple of weeks later, I got the ball back from him, personalized with my first name and with “22-10, 2.11 ERA” on the ball. Really cool.

First time I saw Ellsworth pitch was against the Dodgers. I remember the game because  my parents usually only let me go to Dodger Stadium on a weekend during the school year, but a friend had box seats and they let me go on a school night. Ellsworth pitched a shutout but lost in extras. He was fantastic that season.

In 1965, a day after my birthday, saw Ellsworth take a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Dodgers and lost game on a homer by Al Ferrera bottom of eighth.

Didn’t remember details, so looked up on BR. Santo made error first batter and then a botched sacrifice bunt put a second runner on base and after another bunt moved up both runners, Ferrara hit a 3-run homer to break up no-hitter and win game 3-1. All three runs unearned. Ouch.

That was the season of the Koufax perfect game against Cubs in L.A.

Lots of memories.

Yes, 1960 was one of those years when I was buying packs of cards. A nickel for 6 cards and a piece of bubble gum. 10 packs for

50 cents! The 1960 Ellsworth is a nice card.

By the way, the 1966 Ellsworth card mistakenly has a picture of Ken Hubbs, not Ellsworth.

Ironic since they were close friends and Hubbs death was devastating to Ellsworth (and the club)——and to me as I met Hubbs and his family once before a game. When I first saw that 1966 card, I was shocked.

Think I have at least one card of every Cubs player who had a card at one time or another going way back.

Forgot to mention that Ellsworth was one of the worst hitting pitchers of that era. Had a .088 career BA and .247 OPS. The notoriously bad Bob Buhl was .089 and .220.

The reason I asked about the rookie card is that I think I have several.  For several years in the 60's I collected cards.  I kinda lost interest when so many replicas were being produced, hurting the value of them.  My mother burned my old comics but fortunately I still have cards, some of them very valuable...if one could find a buyer.