Today would have been the 44th birthday for former MLB pitcher Darryl Kile, who died on June 22, 2002 suddenly of a heart attack. Kile has been since remembered as a great teammate and significant member of each MLB organization he played for, as the Cardinals, Astros and Rockies have memorials
Kile was only 33 when he passed away, clearly leaving a pitching career that had yet to be finished. He was the first active MLB player to pass away during a season since Yankees catcher Thurman Munson in 1979. Cory Lidle (10/11/2006), Josh Hancock (4/29/2007) and Nick Adenhart (4/9/2009) would also suffer untimely deaths interrupting their playing careers. (If I missed any more recent active players, please let me know. It is unattended.) Kile's death caused the postponement of the Cardinals 6/22/2002 game in Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Initially, foolishly, I wondered out loud. As sad as it is to hear about somebody's untimely passing, a lot has been said and reiterated about Kile as a person. Almost to a point where I thought it was overkill. So I decided to read an excerpt from Buzz Bissinger's "Three Nights in August", a chapter devoted to the former MLB pitcher.
After reading that excerpt, it is hard to not understand how much of a competitor Kile was, and how seriously he took his job of pitching. Then you realized he never missed a start, let alone went on the disabled list at any point of his pitching career. Even during his tough times in Colorado. He also expected to win. His struggles in Colorado kind of took him off the radar as one of the games best pitchers. He clearly regained it in St Louis, going 10-9, 3.91 in 2000 and following that up with a 16-11, 3.09 season in 2001. He was on the rise again. Something that may not have been as noticable unless you researched Darryl Kile and that 2002 season.
Once Kile established himself during the 1993 season, going 15-8, 3.51 in 32 games, 26 starts in Houston, he became a bulldog. He didn't miss a start in 1994, a season shortened due to the strike. He struggled a little bit in 1995, spending part of the season as a reliever. After that, starting in 1996, he never missed a start due to injury. He would make every start until the last one of his career, June 18th, 2002. He wouldn't want it any other way. How many other pitchers would have started the 2002 season on the disabled list after undergoing artroscopic surgery on his shoulder during the offseason? I look at Darryl Kile as a bulldog, in a game where pitchers think they did their job after pitching 5 plus innings and giving up three runs. That was not him; he'd throw seven, and think he did not get the job done if his team did not win the game.
Looking at his rejuvenation with the Cardinals, it is safe to say he would have had several good seasons ahead of him. Its interesting to think how he would have handled the late 2000s, 2007-2010, when starting pitching became more of a 6 inning game. His attitude on the mound could be described as a poor man's Tom Seaver or Bob Gibson. Tony LaRussa certainly thought so.
Once Kile established himself during the 1993 season, going 15-8, 3.51 in 32 games, 26 starts in Houston, he became a bulldog. He didn't miss a start in 1994, a season shortened due to the strike. He struggled a little bit in 1995, spending part of the season as a reliever. After that, starting in 1996, he never missed a start due to injury. He would make every start until the last one of his career, June 18th, 2002. He wouldn't want it any other way. How many other pitchers would have started the 2002 season on the disabled list after undergoing artroscopic surgery on his shoulder during the offseason? I look at Darryl Kile as a bulldog, in a game where pitchers think they did their job after pitching 5 plus innings and giving up three runs. That was not him; he'd throw seven, and think he did not get the job done if his team did not win the game.
Looking at his rejuvenation with the Cardinals, it is safe to say he would have had several good seasons ahead of him. Its interesting to think how he would have handled the late 2000s, 2007-2010, when starting pitching became more of a 6 inning game. His attitude on the mound could be described as a poor man's Tom Seaver or Bob Gibson. Tony LaRussa certainly thought so.
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