Dutch, A Philadelphia Love Story
Darren Daulton is one of the most beloved players in the Philadelphia Phillies' history. As a member of the organization for 17 years, he was with the team during the good, bad, and amazing. He was also there during one of the most memorable and enjoyable times in recent memory.
As the longest-tenured Phillie during their surprising 1993 NL Championship season, he was the enforcer on their team full of misfits.
Daulton was affectionately referred to as Dutch by the Philly faithful and by Bubba to a lot of his teammates. Mentally and physically tough, and sometimes feared, he was also known by most observers, as their leader.
Nobody did anything in the locker room without running it by him first.
There were no prima donna types on this team, nobody would be treated differently. There were no superstars. That wasn’t tolerated. Everyone was going to be held accountable on the field, and off.
Egos were checked before arriving at the stadium, and if you didn’t check that ego, it was going to be checked for you.
‘Old school’ doesn’t begin to describe the team and the players who embodied the personality that this group would be known for.
There have not been as many colorful characters on one team since. These were blue-collar workers in a blue-collar town, and they were beloved for it.
Most of those who followed the team called the portion of the locker room that the six most colorful (Daulton John Kruk, Dave Hollins, Lenny Dykstra, Mich Williams, and Pete Inciviglia) players occupied ‘Macho Row.’ The players referred to it as ‘The Ghetto.’
It was generally unkempt, cluttered, and filled with profanity-laced language that would make a sailor blush. But it was also a space that was beloved by the reporters for how candid and honest that group would be. Darren was always at the forefront of those conversations. He was the face of ‘Macho Row.’
With great power comes great responsibility, and Darren always took his role as a leader very seriously. Often times those in his position can be begrudged by other teammates. But not Dutch. He was fair, consistent, and beloved for it.
You may have heard the phrase “guys want to be him, and girls want to be with him” that was Darren. Tough, rugged, handsome as hell, and admired by all.
Some people are defined as being a lover or a fighter, Darren was both. But make no mistake by taking his kindness for weakness, he was a fighter. An enforcer, both an imposing and intimidating figure that other men respected and feared. He also loved unconditionally and was never afraid to show it or tell the ones that mattered to him how much he cared for them.
The following are reflections and expressions of love from a lot of those players and those who knew him best and reciprocated the love he had for them.
Players:
Milt Thomspon
“He would always come up, give me a hug and kiss me on the cheek. He is the only man allowed to kiss me on the cheek.
He had a nickname for everybody. He nicknamed me Scooter, I guess I could run a little but back then.
There’s never been another leader on a team like Darren Daulton, and never will be”
Ricky Bottalico
“ When you came into that clubhouse you knew he was the leader, he was the Godfather of the Phillies, he was the guy you needed to go to.
My rookie year (1995) I was throwing the ball well, he (Darren) put down a pitch and I said no, he came out to the mound. He literally looked me in the face ‘what is your ERA with me on the mound’ I said zero what is it with everybody else?’, I said I don’t know, he said ‘the rest’. I never shook him off again. I threw the pitch, and the outcome was a strikeout.”
Larry Bowa
As a coach on the 93 teams. Larry described how one night Mitch Williams wasn’t happy with the way Fregosi managed the game.
“Anytime it's the 9th inning, Mitch thinks he’s supposed to pitch. It wasn't a save opportunity, the Phillies were up by 4 runs. We won the game. Mitch never got in that game, and he comes in, and everyone's high-fiving, and he throws his glove in the locker and Dutch happened to be in there. Mitch said ‘that’s my inning you know it is Dutch’. Dutch said ‘come here’. They went back in the trainer's room and next thing you know they were screaming. But from that day on this is for the team. As a coach when you get help like that from other players it makes your job so much easier.”
Ruben Amaro Jr
“In 92, I was a rookie, came from another organization, and was traded over and had an opportunity to play. Fortunately, or unfortunately for the Phillies, I ended up paying a lot because Lenny Dykstra got hurt and I just remember Dutch being tough and also being really supportive.
In 93 after I’d gone through the rookie process, I would sit down after a game, if we lost the game, and I knew I did something that I probably shouldn't have done. I’d look over at Dutch and he’d say hey and he’d give me a look and that's all it really took. That was his ability to speak without speaking. He had that kind of a presence.
You knew that he loved you, and you also knew that you could make a better decision next time.
In 96 we were the ones standing (from the 93 teams) and he literally would take me out after every single home game, the entire year. He would take me to Mortons for 81 straight games. ‘Ruben, I’m making stupid money, lets's eat, we’re gonna eat!’
Jim Eisenreich
After 17 seasons with the Phillies organization, Daulton was dealt to the Florida Marlins on July 21, 1997. Jim describes how Daulton transitioned to the Marlins after the trade, as well as reflects on playing with Darren for both Philadelphia and Florida.
“I had the benefit of being Darren’s teammate on 2 different teams and with the Marlins in 97 we won the World Series. He was traded just before the July 31 deadline. We were in Cincinnati for a 3 game series, and the first night, probably a Friday, we lost the game and it was a bad game for us. We lost 3–2 or something in late innings. Should have won. After the game was over, right after the game, just because of the way we played, Darren said, ‘can I have everybody, the players here’ right at the steps of the dugout going to the clubhouse? No coaches. Everybody else had to go. He chased everyone out.”
“All he said was ‘I just got here a couple days and we lose this game and you look like a bleeping country club. Like you don’t even care’. That was it. That’s all he said, 15 seconds, he was done.”
“The next night he’s in the lineup playing first base. He hit a broken-bat little blooper over the first baseman's head, and you know Darren had 8 surgeries on one knee and another on the other and busted his tail to second base and got a double. What that did was that it showed the other guys what he said the night before, right there in the dugout, he meant it. He wasn't just saying it, he was actually doing it too It’s what he believed. That was Darren.”
Darren went 7–18 during the 1997 World Series, batting 389. He announced his retirement after the series.
Tommy Greene
“One day we're pitching and I wasn't getting the breaking ball down, I was kinda leaving it up a little bit gave up a hit. He comes in after the inning, I might've given up a run you know, and were winning or whatever and he says hey TG you gotta bury that thing you gotta bounce it. with 2 strikes don't be afraid to bounce it, ill block it. ill be there for you. next inning man on 3rd base, 2 outs I get ahead and I'm up in the count, 2 strikes, he calls the curve ball but he wanted me to bounce on the back corner of the plated so I threw a real good one that bounced got the swing and miss he goes down to block it through the wickets it goes run scores and I'm on the mound and he goes back in the vet, he picks up the ball he turns around and looks at me still had his mask on I think and he shrugs we both grinned and laughed about it. He was a true leader to the word. you know on and off he gave you the confidence to do things and his knack was, I know with me, especially to know what kind of stuff I had that day. He challenged me to be better he helped me grow up as a man. it made my day brighter every time I saw him.
The hug and kiss. When you come into the clubhouse and you haven’t seen him in a little bit. It's like these lights in this room right now it made my day brighter every time I saw him the smile the hug and a kiss. It was just a pleasure to have known him and played with him, and I'm proud to have been his friend.
Dutch was very charitable.
“If we went out together, or something like that, and I went to pay for something he’d look at me he says leave your wallet in your pocket we take care of you, you pay it forward to the young guys when you get older too, that's the type of person he was, he did that with everybody.”
Randy Wolf
“In Clearwater, there are a few restaurants that you kinda mingle in, and the one thing I think everybody knows about Darren, the first time you meet him, he’s gonna give you a kiss on the cheek. It’s a shock at first if you’re not used to it. Every single woman I knew growing up had a crush on this guy. Does that make me retroactively hot because Darren Daulton gave me a kiss on the cheek? (laughing) and when he’d leave it was always ‘I love you, Wolfy’ ”
“If you knew Darren Daulton, you were kissed on the cheek”
Kevin Stocker
“The best thing that happened to me and my first day the Vet Stadium in 1993 was the fact that my locker was next to Darren Daulton’s locker. Not only was Darren a great Major League Baseball player but he was the epitome of what an MLB veteran was supposed to be. He always had time and patience when I had questions, taught me how to deal with the press, management, coaches, clubhouse and traveling staff and fans. I always respected Darren for the fact that he never treated me like the rookie that I was in ’93, but rather, like every other teammate on that championship team. Darren was never loud and never screamed, but when he did have something to say, everyone listened. I know I did, and because of that, I will be forever grateful to him for the lessons he taught me.”
Dave Hollins
Discussing Darren and accountability.
“I had one run-in with Dutch early in my career well actually it was 93 the opening day. That’s the way he was, he handled stuff. A lot of guys don’t wanna deal with team stuff. They’re too busy worrying about their own career and performing and taking care of themselves. It’s not easy to worry about all the other guys in the clubhouse who are maybe not pulling the rope the same way every night. My opening day first series at Houston. The last game punching (striking) out 3 times and we swept them, and not acting the right way after. (he was unhappy with his performance, but the team had won all 3) Dutch he handles that with me. And it never happened again in my career. It was the right way to handle it. He was ready to confront me, man, to man physically the next day at home, before the home opener. And I felt like shit because of it. You know, I knew I was in the wrong. I got the message and it never happened again. A lot of guys don’t do that. They don’t wanna risk their own career or be bothered with it. It’s hard enough for a lot of guys just to play there and stay there in the major leagues. So that’s what made him so special.”
Von Hayes
“I worked with him on the television side of things and he wanted to be the best television analyst he could be, that was Darren”
Scott Eyre
On meeting Dutch at fantasy camp.
“He looked at my name tag Scotty Eyre!, then the man leaned in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek, the first time I met him. He was the life of the party, when Darren started telling a story everyone stopped and listened.”
Mariano Duncan
“He was like a brother to me, he meant the world to me. He was a leader to me and to the Phillies organization, not only in the good times but also during the bad times.
Mickey Morandini
“We have lost a good one. I have a heavy, heavy heart today. Dutch not only was a great person, a great friend, and also the greatest clubhouse leader I’ve ever played with. He was also like a father figure to me during my career. I will miss him dearly.”
Danny Jackson
“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 lost his fight to this terrible disease but he will always be my teammate and he will never lose my respect, my friendship, my love for the way he played in the game of life.”
Curt Schilling
“Heart and soul. Those are the two words that define Darren Daulton as a human being, and as a member of the Phillies 1993 team. In my 22 years of baseball, I have never been privileged enough to be around a man who led anywhere near as well as Dutch did. He was perfect in that role in every sense of the word. From Hollywood looks to never EVER saying the wrong thing, he led us on and off the field. I am forever grateful to call him a friend and a teammate. God blessed me enough to allow me to be around men who changed my life and I’ll be forever thankful Dutch was one of those men. God Bless Dutch, now the fastball down and away.”
Mitch Williams
“What most people don’t know about him was that he wasn’t afraid to show his emotion. Dutch always had a big hug and a kiss on the cheek for anyone of us who he was happy with. However, when someone needed to be stood up straight, he did it and you knew it. Maybe that’s why he kept me close, I don’t know, but I’m glad he did.
He was our rock, our leader in that clubhouse of guys in 1993. He, of course, was first locker on Macho Row-I don’t even know how it got the name, but I was fortunate enough to locker next to him, followed by Pete “Inky” Incaviglia, Lenny “Nails” Dykstra, and John “Kruky” Kruk.”
Lenny Dykstra
On the importance of attending Darren’s funeral. Lenny, who splits his time between Southern California and New York stated “I’d have walked if I’d had to”
“He was our anchor and our leader; ensuring that our focus was always between the lines when we played. His stewardship and incredible toughness were the inspiration for that magical year in 1993, when we put it all together, and made baseball fun again in Philly. It was a privilege to have played with him, and to have known him. I will miss him.”
JOHN KRUK
“I think the greatest thing that Darren Daulton taught all of us, and it’s not a word that’s used in baseball or sports, is love. Never in my life have I been hugged and kissed by a man more than Darren did. That’s the thing I’m going to miss about him. Love.
He showed us, love. And in showing us love, we all became better people. Because of him. We’re going to miss him dearly. We already do. But the one thing I can promise you all here, his legacy will never die because of all of us. We will keep it going forever. We will make sure everyone knows what kind of man Darren Daulton was. What he meant to us on a daily basis.”
Kruk recalls his first encounter with Darren
“The first time I saw Darren Daulton we are playing against each other in Triple-A and I thought he was just another ordinary player. When I was traded to the Phillies I realized that he was so much more than that. The culture of the Phillies at that time had to change and Darren led the charge for us becoming a championship-caliber team, and while doing so he not only became a leader and a friend we became brothers. I will always be grateful for him putting us on his back and carrying us to the World Series. He taught us so much along the way that I will always be indebted to him for that. I love you, brother!”
Carli Lloyd
On choosing her jersey number.
Highlights:
Caught Terry Mulhoands no-hitter on 8/15/1990
Lead the National League in RBIs for the 1992 season with 109.
He also earned his first silver slugger award that same year.
In 1992 and 1993 Darren was elected to back-to-back all-star games.
He was selected to play in 3 during his career.
Dutch is one of only nine catchers in MLB history to drive in 100 or more runs in back-to-back seasons.
Represented the NL Champion Phillies in the 1993 World Series
Won the 1997 World Series as a member of the Florida Marlins
Inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame on August 6, 2010
Daulton’s mother, Carol
Touched on some of the hardships Darren had in his life.
“Darren had many, many wonderful things happen to him in his lifetime, but he also had some really bad things. Like when he lost all his money plus his family and his way of life as he knew it. He could have become very bitter and angry for the rest of his life, but instead, he chose to be a better man for the rest of his life. In honor of Darren, I would like to challenge the whole world to see their glass as half full. Be kind, understanding, and loving to the people in your life without expecting anything in return.”
Darren Daulton Foundation:
In 2013, Darren was diagnosed with Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive form of brain cancer. Rather than giving in to the disease, Darren sought to help others by forming The Darren Daulton Foundation with his wife Amanda. The Darren Daulton Foundation was born out of Darren’s love and inspiration for serving and helping others. The Foundation serves as an extension of Darren’s love for people. How he lived every day.
On July 1, 2013, Daulton underwent surgery for resection of two brain tumors related to glioblastoma. On February 23, 2015, Daulton announced that he was cancer-free. Unfortunately, it returned in early 2017, and Daulton passed away on August 6, 2017, aged 55.
I’ve met few athletes, or people, in my life who had the impact Darren did on so many. He transcended sports and his legacy of love continues to live on today through everyone's memories and his foundation.
The Darren Daulton Foundation provides financial assistance to those who suffer from malignant primary brain tumors.
If you are able and so inclined, please consider a donation to the
Memorial:
Two of the lines from the memorial program celebrating Darren’s life have always stayed with me
You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived.
Everyone who shared their experiences had big smiles while remembering Darren. What more can you ask than to be remembered in that way?
It is often said, when describing someone special, that “they broke the mold when they made them” and from what I know from the short amount of time that I spent with Darren, and from others who have shared their experiences, that statement could be made regarding him. I hope that isn’t true though. I hope we have many more people as special, memorable, influential, and as good as Dutch. The world could always use more hugs, kisses, and goodwill.
As always, thank you for reading
David
9/4/22
Follow me @PHLEagleNews
Much Appreciation:
I would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who gave me their time and assisted me. This list includes but is not limited to.
All of the players for their time and reflections remembering Darren. The Phillies podcast for all of their player interviews. William Kashatus for his book Macho Row: The 1993 Phillies and Baseball’s Unwritten Code, which was an invaluable resource. For all Phillies fans, this is one of the best reads out there. Well researched, insightful, and descriptive. Nothing else puts you closer to being on the 1993 team.
And to the Philadelphia Phillies organization, particularly that 1993 team. I don't believe there has been a fraternity quite like this in Phillies' history, before or since. I also don't think there has been another man like Darren. They don't make many cut from that same cloth anymore. Rest in peace.
Authors Note:
I had the honor of meeting Darren on 3 occasions. Once as a college kid during the 1993 season. That was the pinnacle for me. Not only was it the first time meeting him, but he was at the height of his popularity. You wouldn't have known it though, he still took time to engage with all of us fans. I met him again in 1997 before he was traded away to the Marlins, (and won a WS ring) and lastly a couple of years before he passed away. Dutch was still as kind, jovial, and capable of taking over a room as he ever was. He was also apparently still a ladies’ man as I had to listen to my wife tell me how good-looking he was.
In the few minutes I spent with him in 2015, he spoke of the 93 Phillies, his illness, and most importantly how happy he was to be alive. He also wore a smile on his face the entire time. Forever strong, macho.
Before I walked away he asked me to make sure if my wife and I had a good picture on our phone of us together. We did, but I wisely took the opportunity to take another. I wished him well, and would never see him again.
I have never met many people that are larger than life. I had heard the phrase used many times but had never experienced it before meeting Darren. He truly was a larger-than-life personality. His legacy lives on.
