Darryl Kile
Pitcher 1991 - 2002

Darryl Kile was born on 12/02/1968, in Garden Grove, California. He went to High School in Norco Senior (Calif.) and attended Junior college at Chaffey College (Calif.). Kile's tragic death on June 22, 2002 at the young age of 33 shocked the baseball world! He will be remembered most for his clubhouse leadership and the impact he made on his teammates. He will also be remembered for his 20-win season in 2002 and his no-hitter he threw in 1993, as a member of the Houston Astros. He was always the first one to show up at practice and all the games, and he was always the last one to leave. When Kile had the ball in his hand, he believed he would make a difference so his team could win! No matter what the score was he believed he could do something to turn things around. He was more then a man he was a team leader, he was a son, brother, husband, father, friend and mentor! A few days after Kile's unexpected death, the Cardinals was playing in a baseball game. Dave Veres was pitching and he was in jam. Veres had bases loaded with no one out. To no one's knowledge, Veres asked Darryl for help. Veres struck out the next two batters and got the third batter to make an out!

Darryl's move to St. Louis proved to be a godsend for both himself and the club! Acquired from Colorado after the 1999 season, he went 36-20 in two years with the Cardinals while enhancing his reputation as one of the most durable pitchers in the game. Darryl went 16-11 for the Redbirds in 2001 and shaved nearly a full run off his ERA. His mark of 3.09 placed him fifth among National League starters and he finished sixth in innings pitched with 227.1. Darryl threw more than 200 innings for the fifth time in six seasons and made at least 32 starts for the sixth year in a row. Darryl went 20-9 for the Cardinals in 2000--winning 20 games for the first time--helping the club advance to the NL Championship Series. He and Atlanta's Tom Glavine (21) were the only 20-game winners in the senior circuit that season. Benefiting from the wisdom of respected pitching coach Dave Duncan, Darryl tossed five complete games and finished fifth in the voting for the NL Cy Young award. Darryl will always be known for having one of the game's best curveballs, but the key for him was getting ahead of the hitters with his two-seam, sinking fastball. When the count was in his favor, he could break off the curve and leave batters scratching their heads. Darryl began his major-league career with Houston in 1991 and had some solid years with the Astros before signing with Colorado after the 1997 season. Always effective at the Astrodome, he threw a no-hitter there on Sept. 8, 1993 vs. the New York Mets.

CAREER NOTES
Was selected by the Houston Astros organization in the 30th round of the free-agent draft on June 2, 1987. He was put on the Tucson disabled list from June 25 through July 5, 1992. He was granted free agency on October 28, 1997. He was signed by the Colorado Rockies on December 4, 1997, and then was traded by the Rockies along with P Dave Veres and P Luther Hackman to the St. Louis Cardinals for P Jose Jimenez, P Manny Aybar, P Rick Croushore and SS Brent Butler on November 16, 1999.

RECORDS
Shares modern N.L. record for most hit batsmen (nine-inning game) with 4 (June 2, 1996).

STAT NOTES
Led N.L. with 15 hit batsmen in 1993. Pitched 7-1 no-hit victory against New York on September 8, 1993. Tied for N.L. lead with 10 wild pitches in 1994. Tied for N.L. lead with 16 hit batsmen in 1996.

MISC. NOTES
Appeared in two games as pinch runner in 1996. Had one sacrifice hit in two appearances as pinch hitter and appeared in one game as pinch runner in 1998.

PERSONAL THOUGHT
Darryl has always been on of my favorite pitchers. I know now he is in heaven still playing baseball with all the past stars. I have always thought he was a All-star player. Now maybe his star will shine in the night sky letting everyone know, he will always be a part of the game and a mentor and a hero to a few. His spirit will always be at the ballparks, games and with his children.