Editing Darryl Kile

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{short description|American baseball player (1968–2002)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Darryl Kile
|image=Darryl Kile StLCardinals 03042000.jpg
|caption=Kile with the Cardinals in 2000
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1968|12|2}}
|birth_place=[[Garden Grove, California]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2002|6|22|1968|12|2}}
|death_place=[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 8
|debutyear=1991
|debutteam=Houston Astros
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=June 18
|finalyear=2002
|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=133–119
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=4.12
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=1,668
|teams=
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1991}}–{{mlby|1997}})
* [[Colorado Rockies]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|1999}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2002}})
|highlights=
* 3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1993]], [[1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1997]], [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]])
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on September 8, 1993
}}
'''Darryl Andrew Kile''' (December 2, 1968 – June 22, 2002) was an American professional baseball starting [[pitcher]]. He pitched from 1991 to 2002 for three [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams, primarily for the [[Houston Astros]]. Kile was known for his sharp, big-breaking [[curveball]]. He died at the age of 33 of [[coronary artery disease]] in 2002 in Chicago, where he and the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] were staying for a weekend series against the [[2002 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]]. He was the first active major league player to die during the regular season since 1979, when the [[New York Yankees]]' [[Thurman Munson]] died in a plane crash.

== Early life ==
Kile was born on December 2, 1968, in [[Garden Grove, California]], near [[Angel Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chass |first1=Murray |title=Darryl Kile, a Pitcher for the Cardinals, Is Dead at 33 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/24/sports/darryl-kile-a-pitcher-for-the-cardinals-is-dead-at-33.html |access-date=July 17, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 24, 2002}}</ref> He attended [[Norco High School]] in [[Norco, California]], where his awkward frame and low pitch velocity — his [[four-seam fastball]] topping out at {{convert|78|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} — meant that he was mostly overlooked by college recruiters and [[Scout (sports)|scouts]]. In 1987, after graduating from Norco, Kile enrolled at [[Chaffey Junior College]] in [[Rancho Cucamonga, California]], and joined their [[college baseball]] team as a [[Walk-on (sports)|walk-on]]. Between his freshman and sophomore year of college, Kile underwent a [[growth spurt]] that took him from {{convert|6|ft|2|in}} to {{convert|6|ft|5|in}}, helped him gain {{convert|20|lbs}}, and added {{convert|13|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} to his fastball.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Maryann |title=Norco's Kile Remembers When |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-04-sp-20102-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 4, 1993}}</ref>

===Houston Astros===
Kile was selected by the [[Houston Astros]] in the 30th round of the [[1987 Major League Baseball draft|1987 Major League draft]]. Having been successful with the [[Tucson Sidewinders|Tucson Toros]], the Astros' [[minor league baseball|AAA club]] in the [[Pacific Coast League]], Kile entered the majors in 1991, going 7–11 in 22 starts. In his first major league start on April 24, 1991, Kile had a [[no-hitter]] going when he was lifted after six innings by manager [[Art Howe]], who wanted to protect the 22-year-old rookie's arm. Kile's breakthrough year came in 1993 when he went 15–8 with a 3.51 [[earned run average]] and made the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team. On September 8, Kile pitched a [[no-hitter]] against the [[New York Mets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09080HOU1993.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Houston Astros 7, New York Mets 1|website=www.retrosheet.org|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> He pitched seven seasons with the Astros, mostly as a starter. Another strong season was 1997, when he went 19–7, compiled a 2.57 ERA, made the All-Star team again, threw a career-high {{frac|255|2|3}} [[innings pitched|innings]], and pitched four [[shutouts in baseball|shutout]]s. He finished fifth in voting for the NL [[Cy Young Award]]. Kile made his first postseason appearance in Game 1 of the [[1997 National League Division Series]] against the [[1997 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]], giving up only two hits but suffering a hard-luck 2–1 loss. Atlanta swept [[1997 Houston Astros season|Houston]] in the best-of-five series.

===Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals===
In 1998, Kile signed with the [[Colorado Rockies]] as a free agent. Kile suffered control problems, allowing hitters to lay off his curveball. After two seasons in which he was a combined 21–30 and posted ERAs of 5.20 and 6.61, Kile was traded to the Cardinals. In his first season with St. Louis, Kile went 20–9, becoming the first Cardinal pitcher since [[John Tudor (baseball)|John Tudor]] and [[Joaquín Andújar]] in 1985 to win 20 games in a season. He made his third All-Star team and again finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting. He earned the first playoff victory of his career in Game 2 of the [[2000 National League Division Series|2000 NLDS]] against Atlanta, but suffered two losses in the [[2000 National League Championship Series|NL Championship Series]], which the Cardinals lost to the Mets in five games.

Kile went 16–11 in 2001, and the Cardinals made the playoffs again, losing to the eventual world champion [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] in the [[2001 National League Division Series|NLDS]]. Kile was the starting pitcher for Game 3 and received a no-decision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200110120.shtml|title=2001 National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 3, Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals, October 12, 2001|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref> Kile threw {{frac|227|1|3}} innings and compiled a 3.09 ERA that season, despite having an injured shoulder which required surgery after the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs. He spent the offseason rehabilitating and was ready for the start of the 2002 season. In 12 seasons as a major league pitcher, Kile never went on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2040650&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627033034/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2040650&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2007|title=Kile's impact felt five years later|date=June 21, 2007|access-date=August 5, 2009|first=Matthew|last=Leach|work=MLB.com}}</ref>

On June 18, Kile pitched in an interleague game against the [[Anaheim Angels]], scattering six hits over {{Frac|7|2|3}} innings, allowing one run. He exited the game in the eighth inning to a standing ovation. Kile and the Cardinals won the game, 7–2, and moved into first place in the NL's [[National League Central|Central Division]], a spot they held for the rest of the 2002 season.

== Personal life ==
Kile proposed to his wife, Flynn, in 1991, when they were both 22 years old. They were married on January 11, 1992, and had three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20020626&content_id=64644&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|date=June 26, 2002|title=Memorial service for Darryl Kile held at Busch Stadium|first=Matthew|last=Leach|work=MLB.com|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307103022/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20020626&content_id=64644&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|archive-date=March 7, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=de Jesus Ortiz |first1=Jose |title=Houston Astros: Armed and Dangerous |date=2006 |publisher=Sports Publishing L.L.C. |location=Champaign, IL |isbn=978-1-59670-071-0 |page=65 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dgfa0z-bLOkC}}</ref> He and his family lived in [[Clayton, Missouri]], during the baseball season.<ref name = PD>{{cite news|title = Cards pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead in Chicago|last1 = Strauss|first1 = Joe|last2 = Hummel|first2 = Rick|date = June 23, 2003|newspaper = [[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|page = A1, A11}}</ref> The family also owned a home in [[Englewood, Colorado]], where they lived during the offseason, though at the time of Kile's death, the family was in the process of moving to San Diego for the offseasons.<ref name = PD/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Greenstein |first1=Teddy |last2=Kapos |first2=Shia |title=Pitcher Kile found dead in hotel room |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2002-06-23-0206230176-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2021 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=June 23, 2002}}</ref>

== Death ==
On June 22, 2002, during pregame warmups for what would have been a day game in Chicago against the [[Cardinals–Cubs rivalry|rival]] [[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]], team personnel noted Kile's absence. Hotel staff entered his room and discovered him in his bed, under the covers, dead of a heart attack. His death, which came four days after that of longtime Cardinal broadcaster [[Jack Buck]], was ruled to be from natural causes; an autopsy found that Kile had an [[Cardiomegaly|enlarged heart]], two of his coronary arteries were 90% blocked, and there was a blood clot in one artery.<ref>{{cite news|title=BASEBALL; Coroner Verifies the Cause Of Kile's Death as Natural|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/17/sports/baseball-coroner-verifies-the-cause-of-kile-s-death-as-natural.html|access-date=July 22, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 17, 2002|page = D7|agency = [[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Kile's father had died from a blood clot in 1993, aged 44.<ref name = PD/>

Cubs catcher [[Joe Girardi]] announced at [[Wrigley Field]] that the afternoon's game versus the Cardinals had been cancelled, though he did not give a specific reason. Girardi tearfully gave the news at 2:37&nbsp;pm [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]], broadcast regionally on [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]]: "Excuse me. I thank you for your patience. We regret to inform you because of a tragedy in the Cardinal family, that the [[Bud Selig|commissioner]] has cancelled the game today. Please be respectful. You will find out eventually what has happened, and I ask that you say a prayer for the St. Louis Cardinals' family." The game was rescheduled and made up later in the year on August 31, a 10–4 Cardinal defeat. [[Jason Simontacchi]], who pitched for the Cardinals, was visibly emotional during the game since Kile was a mentor to him. Later that season, when the Cardinals clinched the Central Division championship in a game against the Astros, teammate [[Albert Pujols]] carried Kile's number 57 jersey, on a hanger, to the celebration on the field. 

===Memorial===
{{see also|Baseball awards#Awards given to members of specific teams}}
The Cardinals honored Kile by placing a small "DK 57" sign in the home bullpen. This sign was carried over to the new [[Busch Stadium]] and remains today. The team wrote "DK 57" on their hats. The team put chalk and markers in the Busch Stadium concourses so fans could write similar messages on their caps. In the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], Cardinals pitcher [[Matt Morris (baseball)|Matt Morris]] wrote DK 57 on his hands and held them up when they announced his name in honor of his fallen teammate and close friend.

Since Kile's death, the Astros have not assigned number 57 to another player. The Cardinals were the first of Kile's former teams to re-issue the number, doing so in 2021, giving it to pitcher [[Zack Thompson]] during spring training.<ref>{{Cite news|work=MLB.com|date=March 6, 2021|last=Silver|first=Zachary|url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/zack-thompson-sporting-darryl-kile-s-old-cardinals-number|title=Thompson aims to carry on legacy of No. 57|access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref> Thompson wore the number during his major league debut in 2022, nearly twenty full years after Kile's death.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Denton |first1=John |title=Thompson promoted to Cards, given revered No. 57 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-thompson-promoted-to-cardinals |access-date=June 6, 2022 |work=MLB.com |date=June 3, 2022}}</ref> The Rockies kept the number 57 out of the rotation until it was issued to [[Tommy Doyle (baseball)|Tommy Doyle]] in 2023. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/uniform-numbers.shtml | title=Colorado Rockies Uniform Numbers }}</ref>

The Astros honored Kile with a memorial plaque that hangs along the left field wall at [[Minute Maid Park]] under the 1997 Central Division Championship banner, the last season Kile played for Houston before signing with Colorado. A "DK 57" sign currently sits among the wall in left-center field. The Rockies have a memorial near the bullpens. It is circular, says "DK 57", and is on pinstripes.

In 2003, the Darryl Kile Good Guy Award was established and is presented annually to the [[Houston Astros award winners and league leaders#Darryl Kile Good Guy Award|Astros player]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders#Darryl Kile Good Guy Award|Cardinals player]] who best exemplify Kile's traits of "a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man". The winners are selected, respectively, by the Houston and St. Louis chapters of the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA).<ref name=KileAwardBaseballAlmanac>[http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/darryl_kile_award.shtml Darryl Kile Award]. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved August 14, 2011.</ref> The first recipients of the award were [[Jeff Bagwell]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20020623&content_id=60710&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903161945/http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20020623&content_id=60710&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 3, 2007 |title=Jeff Bagwell remembers his good friend, Darryl Kile |date=June 23, 2002 |access-date=August 5, 2009 |first=Alyson |last=Footer |work=MLB.com }}</ref> and [[Mike Matheny]]<ref name=KileAwardBaseballAlmanac/> of the Astros and Cardinals, respectively.

Kile was given an exemption by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and placed on the ballot for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[2003 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2003]]. With seven votes, he was eliminated from future BBWAA ballot consideration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 Hall of Fame Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2003.shtml |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Los Angeles}}
{{div col}}
* [[Houston Astros award winners and league leaders]]
* [[List of baseball players who died during their careers]]
* [[List of Colorado Rockies team records]]
* [[List of Houston Astros no-hitters]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
* [[St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|first=Buzz|last=Bissinger|author-link=Buzz Bissinger|title=Three Nights in August|year=2005|publisher=Houghton Mifflin|isbn=0-618-40544-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/threenightsinaug00biss}} Contains a chapter about Kile. See [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4565077 Excerpt] at National Public Radio.

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=117046|espn=2470|br=k/kileda01|fangraphs=1163|brm=kile--001dar}}
* [http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0622/1397921.html Cardinals' hurler Kile dead at 33] ESPN
* [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0206/22/se.04.html Transcript] of press conference following Kile's death
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070503043346/http://archive.salon.com/news/sports/col/kaufman/2002/06/24/kile/index.html "Death and life at the ballpark"], Salon.com, June 24, 2002
* [https://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1530 "The Daily Prospectus: Darryl Kile"], Baseball Prospectus, June 24, 2002
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200206180.shtml Boxscore for Kile's last game]
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/tributes/mlb_obit_darryl_kile.jsp History: Tributes: Darryl Kile (December 2, 1968 – June 22, 2002)]. MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, L.P.

{{s-start}}
{{S-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Abbott]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[No-hitter]] pitcher|years=September 8, 1993}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kent Mercker]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Colorado Rockies Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kile, Darryl}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Garden Grove, California]]
[[Category:Chaffey Panthers baseball players]]
[[Category:Colorado Rockies players]]
[[Category:Columbus Mudcats players]]
[[Category:Deaths from coronary artery disease]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Astros players]]
[[Category:Houston Astros players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players]]
[[Category:Norco High School alumni]]
[[Category:Baseball players from St. Louis County, Missouri]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Tucson Toros players]]