With 324 wins, Sutton was picture of consistency

If people really are judged by the company they keep, then it's no wonder that Don Sutton joined Cooperstown's elite.

As a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966, Sutton pitched alongside future Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, as well as All-Star left-hander Claude Osteen. The mere fact that the Dodgers considered Sutton worthy of pitching alongside Koufax, Drysdale and Osteen reflected the right-hander's considerable skill.

On what would have been his 78th birthday, here's a look at 10 highlights of Sutton's career.

1. The "K" way
1966

Though he finished the season 12-12, Sutton recorded an impressive 2.99 ERA and struck out 209 batters, the highest total by a National League rookie since Grover Cleveland Alexander amassed 227 punchouts in 1911 for the Phillies.

2. Upward mobility
1969

Sutton hit his stride following Koufax's retirement after the 1966 season and during Drysdale's last days as an active pitcher in '69. Sutton started a career-high 41 games and pitched a career-high 293 1/3 innings. His 17 victories launched a stretch of 10 consecutive years in which he won at least 14 games per season.

3. Steady, not spectacular
1966-88

Sutton won 20 games just once, finishing 21-10 for the Dodgers in 1976. But he won 11 or more games with 100 strikeouts in 21 of his 23 Major League seasons.

4. At his peak
1972

This was arguably Sutton's finest year. He posted a 19-9 record with a career-low 2.08 ERA and a NL-best 0.913 WHIP. He also led the Majors with nine shutouts and earned his first of four All-Star Game selections.

5. Crack that WHIP
1975, '80-81

Sutton and WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) seemed to go well together. He led the NL in that category in 1975 with the Dodgers (1.038) and in '81 with Houston (1.015). He also topped the Majors with a .989 figure in '80 for the Dodgers.

6. Strong down the stretch
September 1982

Attempting to bolster their pitching staff, the Brewers parted with three Minor League prospects to acquire Sutton from Houston. He indeed provided a boost, finishing 4-1 with a 3.29 ERA in seven September starts to lead Milwaukee to the American League East title. Milwaukee entered the regular-season finale tied for first place with Baltimore, but Sutton helped propel the Brewers into the postseason by yielding two runs in eight innings in a 10-2 victory over Jim Palmer and the Orioles.

7. Mixed results
1978, '82

Sutton assembled a 6-4 postseason record but lost his last four World Series decisions. He dropped Games 3 and 6 in 1978 to the Yankees, who ended the Series in the latter contest. Pitching for the Brewers in '82, Sutton absorbed the decision in their 5-4 loss to the Cardinals in Game 2 and a 13-1 loss in Game 6.

8. Merry prankster
Sept. 30, 1971

The Dodgers trailed first-place San Francisco by one game in the NL West race entering the regular-season finale. Sutton was scheduled to start and could force a one-game playoff if Los Angeles triumphed and the Giants lost. Several hours before the game, Sutton showed up at pitching coach Red Adams' house with his right hand bandaged. He told Adams that the mishap occurred during a kitchen accident. When Adams' head stopped spinning, Sutton removed the bandage, which of course was fake. Sutton proceeded to pitch a complete-game victory over Houston. The Giants won that day, too, though, dashing the Dodgers' postseason hopes.

9. Big number
June 18, 1986

Sutton delivered a commanding effort to secure his 300th career victory. He victimized the Texas Rangers with a complete-game three-hitter in a 5-1 Angels triumph.

10. Try, try again
1998

Sutton's ascent to the Hall of Fame was an exercise in patience. He was elected in his fifth appearance on the ballot, as his percentage of the vote steadily rose -- 56.8 percent in 1994, 57.4 percent in '95, 63.8 percent in '96 and 73.2 in '97 before he broke through with 81.6 percent, 6.6 higher than the minimum requirement of 75 percent.