“Darren was the face of our franchise in the early 1990's."
By David Chang ••
The Philadelphia community is mourning the death of Darren “Dutch” Daulton, who died Sunday after a 4-year fight with brain cancer. Teammates and loved ones shared memories that they have experienced with the Phillies legend. CSN’s John Clark has the story.
Friends, family and sports fans nationwide are mourning the loss of one of Philadelphia's most beloved players. Former Philadelphia Phillies player Darren "Dutch" Daulton passed away Sunday at the age of 55 after a four-year battle with brain cancer.
Born on January 3, 1962 in Arkansas City, Kansas, Daulton attended Arkansas City (KS) High School. He was selected by the Phillies in the 25th round of the 1980 draft. He was a three-time All-Star during his 14 seasons with the Phillies (1983, 1985-1997), the longest tenure for a catcher in the team's history.
Daulton won a Silver Slugger and led the National League with 109 RBI in 1992. He became the only catcher in Phillies history with two 100-RBI seasons with 109 in 1992 and 105 in 1993.
One of Daulton's greatest seasons was 1993 in which he set Phillies single-season records for a catcher in walks (117), doubles (35), putouts (981) and double plays. He also made 143 starts at catcher that year, the most in Phillies history, and played a pivotal role when the team won the 1993 National League pennant.
Aside from the records he set, Daulton also developed a reputation as one of the toughest players in baseball.
Daulton was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1997 where he spent his final two and a half months of his baseball career. Marlins manager Jim Leyland credited Daulton's leadership in the clubhouse with helping the team win the World Series that year.
During his time with the Phillies, Daulton batted .245 in 1,109 games with 189 doubles, 134 home runs and 567 RBI. He also received the Players Choice Comeback Player of the Year Award, the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award and was inducted into the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame, all in 1997. He was also selected as the starting catcher on the All-Vet Team in 2003 and was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2010.
“Darren was a true leader of men. The Phillies would not have gone to the 1993 World Series without his leadership,” said Phillies Chairman Emeritus Bill Giles. “In addition to being an outstanding clubhouse leader, he was also a fighter. He battled through five knee operations to become an All-Star. I really enjoyed watching him for 14 years in uniform. Darren was a super human being. His teammates loved him, I loved him like he was one of my own. In fact, he called me ‘Uncle Bill.’”
While Daulton spent most of his adult life in Clearwater, Florida, in 2010 he spent the season in Philadelphia hosting the "Talking Baseball with Dutch" radio show on 97.5 The Fanatic.
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Darren Daulton, nicknamed "Dutch," played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1983 to 1997. Here he is in March 1989. Daulton helped the team win the 1993 National League pennant and head to the World Series.
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“I first knew Darren as just another teammate, but shortly after, I could see he was much more than that," former Phillies outfielder Jim Eisenreich said. "He was the leader of our team, both on and off the field. He was like a brother or a best friend, and that continued long after our playing days were over. I was privileged to have been his teammate on two World Series teams – the 1993 Phillies and the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins. I’m not sure we would have won either without him.”
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"Dutch" digs out a low pitch during the MLB game on May 24, 1992 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
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Daulton in 1993 sits in the dugout during a game against the San Francisco Giants. Former Phillies player, manager and coach Larry Bowa said “Dutch was one of the most respected players to ever put on a Philly uniform. He was the heart and soul of that 93 team. He was a leader in the clubhouse and on the field, but more importantly, he was my friend. My heart goes out to Amanda, his kids and his family.”
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Jeff Blauser #4 of the Atlanta Braves slides into home plate as Daulton #10 tries to tag him at Fulton County Stadium during the National League Championship Series in October 1993 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Describing Daulton, former Phillies pitcher Danny Jackson says, "You want perseverance, Darren Daulton. You want heart, Darren Daulton. You want dedication, Darren Daulton. You want commitment, Darren Daulton. You want a leader, Darren Daulton. You want courage, Darren Daulton. This is what Darren had to do to be a great baseball player. More importantly this is what Darren took to battle his cancer... he will never lose my respect, my friendship, my love for the way he played in the game of life.”nHere, "Dutch" is swinging at the ball during a game against the Montreal Expos in 1993.
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Daulton #10 tries to tag David Justice #23 of the Atlanta Braves during the National League Championship Series Game 3 on October 9,1993 in Atlanta Georgia.
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Daulton motors his way around the bases during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Former Phillies player Milt Thompson says, “Darren was a leader and friend who I have admired since the day I met him. He was the glue that kept a group of misfits together and ultimately led us to a championship.”
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Atlanta Braves David Justice #23 is safe at home as he gets around Daulton #10 in the inning of Game 3 of the NLCS, Saturday, Oct. 9, 1993, Atlanta, Ga. Justice scored on an error by Mariano Duncan on a Mark Lemke hit.
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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling, left, hugs catcher Darren Daulton after the Phillies defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 in Game 5 of the World Series Thursday, Oct. 21, 1993 in Philadelphia.
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Daulton throws infield for an out against the San Diego Padres in June of 1995.nFormer Phillies player Lenny Dykstra said of his former teammate: “The Philadelphia Phillies family and the world of baseball have lost a warrior. I played with several tough dudes in my career, but Dutch was the toughest."
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Daulton runs to a base during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on July 30, 1995.
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Daulton swings at the ball as catcher Tim Laker of the Baltimore Orioles watches during a game at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on July 2, 1997. It was one of Dutch's last games with the Phillies.
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San Diego Padres second baseman Quilvo Veras avoids collision with Daulton to start second half of double play during game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California on Apr. 6, 1997. The Phillies won the game 3-2.
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Daulton was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1997 where he played for two and a a half months helping the team win the World Series.
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Dutch throws out the first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Three of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 18, 2009 in Philadelphia.
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Daulton and fellow former Phillies catcher Bob Boone are honored on the field before a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on August 13, 2011.
Darren Daulton marries Amanda Dick in December 2013. He told CSN's John Clark that Amanda had done so much for him, was there for him during the good and tough times and that he just wanted to marry her. Daulton was married twice before, once to Nicole Garcia and then to Lynne Austin.
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Daulton throws out the first pitch prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 15, 2016 in Philadelphia.
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Phillies Chairman David Montgomery says, “Darren was the face of our franchise in the early 1990's."
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Rest in Peace, Dutch. You will be missed.
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In 2013, Daulton's family announced he had a glioma, a tumor that arises from the brain tissue itself and is not spread from cancer anywhere else in the body. He underwent surgery for seven hours on July 1, 2013 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to remove the two brain tumors. That same year, his foundation, the Darren Daulton Foundation, which was established in 2011, shifted its mission to raise funds for brain cancer.
"All of us at the Phillies are saddened to hear of Darren's passing. From the day that we drafted him until today, he constantly earned our respect and admiration as both a player and person,” said Phillies Chairman David Montgomery. “Darren was the face of our franchise in the early 1990's. Jim Fregosi asked so much of him as catcher, clean-up hitter and team leader. He responded to all three challenges. One of my toughest decisions as team president was to approve his trade to the Marlins in July of 1997. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Amanda, his parents, his brother and his four children. Dutch was truly ‘one of a kind’ and we will dearly miss him."
Daulton is survived by his parents, one brother, his wife and four children. Funeral services for Daulton will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Darren Daulton Foundation Foundation, 1339 Chestnut Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
