For a young, impressionable nascent baseball fan, Darren Daulton was not the perfect role model but he was a wonderful one. As John noted in his obituary, in his life off the field and outside the clubhouse Daulton fell prey to vices, violence, and kookery. A parent wouldn’t want a child to emulate those aspects of Daulton. However, between the foullines and within the confines of the Vet, Dutch was an icon, a flesh and blood statuary installed throughout that now defunct temple of efficiency and multitasking. His very stature commemorated the pinnacle of athletics. No one’s shoulders were broader, and no one carried a heavier load than he, keeping the Macho Row focussed on playing baseball and not getting sidetracked by extracurriculars and the usual clashes of aggressive personalities.
In Memoriam: Darren Daulton
