Getty Darren Daulton in 1997.
Former Philadelphia Phillies baseball catcher Darren Daulton, known to fans as “Dutch,” has died at the age of 55.
His cause of death was brain cancer.
“Condolences to the family of Darren Daulton, who died tonight after a long battle with brain cancer. R.I.P., Dutch,” tweeted MLB writer David O’Brien.
SportstalkPhilly.com also reported the sad news on August 6: “Sunday, the Phillies lost beloved Phillies alumnus Darren Daulton to his ongoing fight with brain cancer. Daulton was 55 years old.”
According to the sports site, Daulton retired “after being granted free agency following the 1997 season. Over 14 major league seasons, Daulton slashed .245/.357/.427 and hit 137 home runs while driving in 588 runs. He accumulated 22.9 WAR.”
Catcher Darren Daulton of the Philadelphia Phillies watches from the dug out during the Phillies versus San Francisco Giants game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1993.
His struggle with brain cancer dates back four years. “In July 2013, Daulton had two tumors removed from his brain. It was announced that he suffered from a brain cancer known as gioblastoma,” SportstalkPhilly.com reported. “In 2015, he announced on Twitter that an MRI scan revealed that he was cancer free. During this time, Daulton founded the Darren Daulton Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to those with brain cancer and tumors.”
Philly.com praised Daulton’s prowess on the baseball field, writing, “Daulton, affectionately known to fans as ‘Dutch,’ was a hard-edged catcher who overcame a career-threatening knee injury to become a three-time All-Star.” He struggled in life after retirement but had changed his life for the positive before being diagnosed with brain cancer, the newspaper reported.
Former catcher Darren Daulton throws out the first pitch prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 15, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For a time, it looked like Daulton might overcome the brain cancer diagnosis too. “In 2015, doctors said he was cancer-free after surgery, extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment,” Fox29 reported. However, tragically, the cancer returned. According to Fox 29, the Phillies organization has confirmed Daulton’s death. However, the foundation in his name continues on.
You can read more about the Darren Daulton foundation here. The website says the foundation “is committed to providing financial assistance to those who suffer from brain cancer and brain tumors.”