Larry Sutton (minors)

Lawrence Sutton

• Born July 31, 1858 in Oswego, NY USA
• Died June 22, 1944 in New York, NY USA

BR register page

Biographical Information

Larry Sutton was a long-time figure in baseball, noted primarily as the scout who helped build the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He umpired for about 15 years in the Eastern League, Interstate League and New York State League, working in the 19th Century when few umpires lasted long, even in the majors. He managed the 1904 Ilion Typewriters and 1905 Seneca Falls team (to an Empire State League title). In 1906, he was owner of his hometown Oswego Starchmakers in the ESL; he also played for them and managed them during that year.

Charlie Ebbets hired him as a scout for Brooklyn in 1909. He remained there through 1915, then scouted for the 1916 Tigers, 1917 Reds-1918 Reds, 1919 Phillies and then back to Brooklyn from 1920-1936. He signed Nick Altrock, Johnny Babich, Jimmy Barrett, Del Bissonette, Bill Bradley, Rube Bressler, George Browne, Leon Cadore, Hick Cady, Dad Clark, George Cutshaw, Jack Dalton, Jake Daubert, Hank DeBerry, Howard Ehmke, Jumbo Elliott, Babe Ellison, Neal Finn, Gus Getz, Charlie Hargreaves, Dutch Leonard, Ernie Lombardi, Dots Miller, Ralph Miller, Hi Myers, Jeff Pfeffer, Morrie Rath, Jimmy Ring, Doc Scanlan, Gordon Slade, Sherry Smith, Casey Stengel, Sloppy Thurston, Dazzy Vance, Jack Warner, Zack Wheat and George Wiltse as well as recommending the promotion of umpires Ernie Quigley and Bob Hart.

Sutton was a printer's devil off the field.

Sources: SABR bio, The Giants and the Dodgers by Lee Allen