Former MLB Catcher Darren Daulton Passes Away at 55

Sunday evening, news broke that former MLB catcher Darren Daulton had passed away at the age of 55

Former MLB catcher Darren Daulton passed away Sunday evening after a multiple year fight with brain cancer. Daulton had two brain tumors found in 2013, and though they were removed, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, which has also claimed the lives of former MLB players Gary Carter, Tug McGraw, and Johnny Oates.

Time with the Phillies

“Dutch” is probably known most in his MLB career for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies originally drafted Daulton out of high school in Arkansas in 1980 in the 25th round. A rare high school catcher, he worked his way all the way to the majors by 1983, a quick path for a high school backstop.

At 6’2″, he was tall for a catcher, and his knees took the brunt of his bigger size over the years, leading to 9 knee operations over the course of his career, but also earning him a reputation as an incredibly tough player as he played through many of those injuries until he could barely move before succumbing to surgery.

Daulton was not a great hitter for average, but he swung a very powerful bat, and he took over the starting job in 1989, and outside of injuries, he was consistently pounding out extra base hits. He peaked in the 1992-1994 seasons, with a .271/.387/.512 line over those three seasons and averaging 22 home runs and 90 RBI.

Daulton was definitely one of the ring leaders of the 1993 World Series Phillies team, known for their gritty play, dirty uniforms, and blunt attitudes on the field.

Marlins time

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With the injuries totaling up and young

forcing Daulton to the outfield from his natural catcher position, the Phillies chose to trade Daulton midseason to the (then) Florida Marlins for

.

Daulton provided the Marlins with power off the bench at corner outfield and first base. He ended up playing a key role in the World Series victory for the Marlins, playing in all 7 games of the series, with 22 plate appearances, a .389/.455/.667 line and 7 runs scored in the series as the Marlins defeated the Indians, earning Daulton a World Series championship ring that his 1993 Phillies fell short of getting.

He retired after the 1997 season.

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Daulton leaves behind his parents, one brother, a wife, and four children who range in age from 27 to 15.

Rest in peace, Dutch.