Westcott: Darren Daulton was a favorite on and off the field
From SABR member Rich Westcott at the Delaware County Times on August 9, 2017:
The recent passing of Darren Daulton leaves a huge hole in the annals of Philadelphia sports, the likes of which have seldom been seen. Daulton was one of those rare athletes who not only performed effectively, but was a team leader, and was also extremely popular with virtually everyone with whom he came into contact.
Daulton was someone who was very special. During a career in which he spent 14 years with the Phillies (1983, 1985-97), he was one of the finest catchers in the team’s now 135-year history, while spending longer with the Phils than any other backstop, and playing with two pennant-winners (1983, 1993).
“He constantly earned our respect as both a player and a person,” said Phillies chairman David Montgomery. “Darren was the face of our team in the early 1990s.”
Although not drafted until the 25th round in 1980, Daulton became a three-time member of the National League All-Star team. He led the league in RBI in 1992 with 109, becoming only the fourth catcher in big league history to lead the league in RBI (the others were Hall of Famers Roy Campanella, Johnny Bench, and Gary Carter). He followed that with 105 RBI in 1993. He was also an outstanding defensive player who, according to the hurlers he caught, always seemed to call the right pitch.
Read the full article here: http://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/20170809/rich-westcott-darren-daulton-a-favorite-on-on-amp-off-field
Originally published: August 14, 2017. Last Updated: August 14, 2017.