Jim Fregosi was the manager of that ragtag, down and dirty team that stole our hearts while rumbling to the '93 NL crown and a spot in the World Series.
But Darren Daulton was its heart and soul.
Daulton was the guy Fregosi trusted to keep that ornery bunch focused. And he was a master at it. They played hard - on and off the field. He was their unquestioned leader, not an easy job when you think of trying to get Lenny Dykstra, John Kruk, Pete Incaviglia and others to toe the line.
Now Daulton has an equally daunting task. He's battling brain tumors. The former All-Star catcher who played 14 seasons in red pinstripes went public with his fight yesterday. He had been feeling ill for a couple of weeks. Now he's hospitalized and will undergo surgery next week.
Ironically, both former coach John Vukovich and All-Star closer Tug McGraw, both icons from that same Phillies era, also battled brain tumors. Both eventually succumbed.
Daulton was hosting a nightly radio show on 97.5 The Fanatic, "Talking Baseball with Dutch."
We wish him the best.
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