Bruce, it's about time you got tapped

Finally, and by a margin of less than 2 percentage points, 1980s Cardinal ace closer Bruce Sutter goes into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The honor is long overdue; Sutter was in his 13th year of eligibility.

For mastering and popularizing the split-fingered fastball, the one really new pitch in the last 30 years, Sutter deserved consideration as a baseball pioneer alone.

But, for being a closer ironman back in the days when you often pitched more than one inning out of the bullpen, Sutter needed to be seen for what he was — the best fireman of his era.

Goose Gossage had a lower ERA, but, with the exception of one year, Bruce pitched more innings per year. And, although Bruce had a somewhat higher ERA, much of that comes from spending his early years at the pitching-not-so-friendly-confines of Wrigley Field.

No matter. I hope the Goose gets in next year. And Bert Blyleven.

But, as a lifelong Cards fan, I am glad to say this is truly Bruce’s moment.