Albertson: Remembering former Phillies great Darren Daulton
From SABR member Matt Albertson at Sports Talk Philly on August 7, 2017:
Sunday, the Phillies lost beloved Phillies alumnus Darren Daulton to his ongoing fight with brain cancer. Daulton was 55 years old.
Darren “Dutch” Daulton was a 25th round selection by the Phillies in the 1980 draft out of Arkansas City High School. What the Phillies got was a hard-nosed, blue-collar kid who would stop at nothing to succeed as a professional baseball player. Additionally, he carried a record as a proven winner from adolescence through high school. He was an all-state wrestler, heralded as a possible Division I football defensive back, and a three year starting catcher in high school. Athletics came easily to Daulton. He was, according to his high school baseball coach Mike West, a true five tool player who could field, run, throw, hit, and hit for power.
The scouting report also showed that Daulton could handle a pitching staff. His father taught him that it was imperative that a catcher know each of his pitchers and how to handle them in every situation. West recalled a situation when a pitcher tried to be too fine and Daulton confronted the pitcher and chewed him out. West told historian Bill Kashatus that “Darren made people step up. He always gave his very best whenever he stepped on to the field, and he wouldn’t tolerate anything less from his teammates. To find someone that young with that kind of passion, selflessness, work ethic, and integrity was truly exceptional.”
Read the full article here: http://www.sportstalkphilly.com/2017/08/embed-from-getty-images-by-matt-alberston-historical-columnist-darren-dutch-daulton-was-a-25th-round-selection-b.html
Originally published: August 7, 2017. Last Updated: August 7, 2017.