View source for Darrell Porter

{{Short description|American baseball player (1952–2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Darrell Porter
|image=Darrellporter1988.jpg
|image_size=240
|caption=Porter with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1983
|position=[[Catcher]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1952|1|17}}
|birth_place=[[Joplin, Missouri]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2002|8|5|1952|1|17}}
|death_place=[[Sugar Creek, Missouri]], U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 2
|debutyear=1971
|debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 4
|finalyear=1987
|finalteam=Texas Rangers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.247
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=188
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=826
|teams=
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1971}}–{{mlby|1976}})
* [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|1977}}–{{mlby|1980}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1981}}–{{mlby|1985}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|1986}}–{{mlby|1987}})
|highlights=
* 4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1974]], [[1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1978]]–[[1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1980]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1982}})
* [[World Series MVP]] (1982)
* [[NLCS MVP]] ({{nlcsy|1982}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor]]
}}
'''Darrell Ray Porter''' (January 17, 1952 – August 5, 2002) was an American professional [[baseball]] [[catcher]].<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/porteda02.shtml|title=Darrell Porter Stats|date=2019|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref> He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from 1971 to 1987 for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[Kansas City Royals]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]], and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/> The four-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] was known for his excellent defensive skills and power hitting ability.<ref name="Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times">{{cite news |title=Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times |agency=NYT |work=The New York Times |page=23 |date=7 August 2002 |access-date=28 December 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/07/sports/darrell-porter-50-the-catcher-who-was-series-mvp-in-82.html?pagewanted=1}}</ref>
He struggled but was never able to overcome a [[substance abuse]] problem, yet went on to become the most valuable player of the [[1982 World Series]] with the St. Louis Cardinals.<ref name="Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times"/> Porter died from accidental drug toxicity in 2002 at the age of 50.<ref name="Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times"/>

==Biography==

===Playing career===
Born in [[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]], [[Missouri]],  Porter was drafted by the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] in the first round (4th overall) of the [[1970 Major League Baseball Draft]] out of [[Southeast High School (Oklahoma City)|Southeast High School]] in [[Oklahoma City|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/draft/index.jsp?feature=decade1970s |title=1970 Major League Baseball Draft |work=mlb.com |access-date=December 28, 2019 }}</ref> He made his major league debut on September 2, [[1971 Milwaukee Brewers season|1971]], with the Brewers at age 19.<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference" /> He finished third in the {{Baseball year|1973}} [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] voting.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1973.shtml#ALroy 1973 American League Rookie of the Year voting results at Baseball Reference]</ref> Porter was selected to the [[American League]] [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team in [[1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1974]].<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/> On December 6, 1976, the Milwaukee Brewers traded Porter along with [[Jim Colborn]] to the Kansas City Royals for [[Jamie Quirk]], [[Jim Wohlford]] and [[Bob McClure]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Milwaukee team leads baseball trading day |agency=AP |work=Kingman Daily Miner |page=4 |date=7 December 1976 |access-date=28 December 2019 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PURTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zIUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4569%2C5799809}}</ref>

Porter replaced [[Buck Martinez]] as the Royals starting catcher. He had the best season of his career in [[1979 Kansas City Royals season|1979]] when, he posted a .291 batting average along with 20 home runs, 112 runs batted in, and led the league with 121 walks.<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/> He became only the sixth catcher in Major League history to score 100 [[Run (baseball)|runs]] and have 100 [[runs batted in]].<ref name="Gene Romero Grand National Champion">[https://books.google.com/books?id=8zMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=darrel+porter+baseball+digest&pg=PA60 Darrell Porter Joins a Select Group of Catchers], ''Baseball Digest'', January 1980, Vol. 39, No. 1, {{ISSN|0005-609X}}</ref> The feat had previously been accomplished by [[Mickey Cochrane]], [[Yogi Berra]], [[Roy Campanella]], [[Johnny Bench]], and [[Carlton Fisk]]—all in the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]]. Only Porter and Cochrane had 100 walks, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in a single season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/porter.htm|title=Darrell Porter at The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers|date=2019|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers|access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref> He ended the 1979 season ranked third in [[Wins Above Replacement]] behind [[Fred Lynn]] and his Royals teammate [[George Brett]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1979-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1979 Batting Leaders|date=2019|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=December 28, 2019}}</ref> With the Royals, he was selected to three consecutive American League All-Star teams.<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/>

====Drug problems====
Porter told the [[Associated Press]] that during the winter of 1979–1980, he became [[paranoia|paranoid]], and he was convinced by teammates that [[baseball commissioner]] [[Bowie Kuhn]]—who was known to be tough on drug use—knew about his drug abuse. Porter said he believed that Kuhn was trying to sneak into his house and planned to ban him from baseball for life. Porter found himself sitting up at night in the dark watching out of the front window, waiting for Kuhn to approach while clutching billiard balls and a shotgun.

During spring training in 1980, former [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] pitcher [[Don Newcombe]] paid a visit to the Kansas City clubhouse. He asked the players ten questions, the point of which being if a player answered three or more of the questions with an affirmation, the player might have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Porter affirmed all ten questions and checked himself into a rehabilitation center, admitting he had abused [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]], [[cocaine]], [[Methaqualone|Quaaludes]], and [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]].<ref name="Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times"/>

====Later career====
After checking into the rehab center, Porter became a [[born-again Christian]], married, and became a spokesman for the [[Fellowship of Christian Athletes]]. His production on the field declined after rehab, and he never again approached his 1979 levels. He went on to play in three World Series—in [[1980 World Series|1980]] with the Royals and in [[1982 World Series|1982]] and [[1985 World Series|1985]] with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. Porter won both the [[1982 National League Championship Series|1982]] National [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award]] and the 1982 [[World Series MVP Award]].<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/><ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/postmvp.shtml Post-Season World Series MVP Awards & All-Star Game MVP Award Winners at Baseball Reference]</ref> At the time, Porter was only the second player in baseball history to win both awards in a single postseason; [[Willie Stargell]] of the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] won both awards in 1979. After the [[1985 St. Louis Cardinals season|1985]] season, the Cardinals released Porter, and he wound up his career with two seasons with the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] as a catcher and designated hitter. In 1986 Porter led Major League Baseball with a home run every 12.9 at bats, the best ratio that season for any player with 10 or more home runs. He also broke his ankle during the 1986 season and was on the disabled list for eight weeks. He appeared in his final major league game on October 4, 1987, and retired at the age of 35.<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/>
===Personal life===
Porter was married twice. His first marriage, in 1972 to the former Teri Brown, ended in divorce in 1976. On November 29, 1980, Porter married Deanne Gaulter, who survived him in death. The couple had three children: Lindsey, Jeffrey, and Ryan.

In [[1984 in literature|1984]], Porter wrote an autobiography titled ''Snap Me Perfect!'', in which he detailed his life in baseball and his struggles with substance abuse.<ref name="Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times"/>
===Later life and death===
In 2000, Porter was inducted into the [[Missouri Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mosportshalloffame.com/inductees/darrell-porter/ |title=Darrell Porter |website=mosportshalloffame.com |accessdate=November 1, 2024}}</ref>

On August 5, 2002, Porter left his home in [[Lee's Summit, Missouri]], saying he was going to buy a newspaper and go to the park. That afternoon at 5:26 p.m. [[Central Time Zone|CDT]], he was found dead outside his vehicle in [[Sugar Creek, Missouri]], a suburb of Kansas City.<ref name="Darrell Porter Obituary at The New York Times"/> An [[autopsy]] found he had died of "toxic effects of cocaine." The autopsy indicated that the level of cocaine in Porter's system—consistent with recreational use—induced a condition called [[excited delirium]] (a diagnosis that is now rejected by the medical community) that caused his heart to stop.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0812/1417225.html |title=Doctor says Porter did not die of an overdose |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |website=ESPN.com |date=August 13, 2002}}</ref> Police theorized that Porter's car went off a road and got caught on a tree stump in La Benite Park in Sugar Creek. Police say Porter got out of the car, walked to the nearby [[Missouri River]], and then walked back to his car. Authorities had initially speculated that he overheated while trying to push the car off the stump in high heat and humidity, but there was no evidence to indicate that he tried to move the car. The exact details surrounding his death remain unknown.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-only-god-knows/158283669/ |title='Only God knows' |first=Jeff |last=Passan |newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]] |page=C12 |date=January 30, 2005 |accessdate=November 2, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
In a 17-year major league career, Porter played in 1,782 [[Games played|games]], accumulating 1,369 [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] in 5,539 [[at bats]] for a .247 career batting average along with 188 home runs, 826 runs batted in and a .354 [[on-base percentage]].<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/> He ended his career with a .982 [[fielding percentage]].<ref name="Darrell Porter at Baseball Reference"/> As of the 2009 season, he ranked 21st on the all-time list for home runs by a catcher and 20th all-time for RBI by a catcher.<ref>[http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/8coffhr.htm Home runs by catchers at The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers]</ref><ref>[http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/8coffrbi.htm RBIs by catchers at The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers]</ref> Porter caught two [[no-hitter]]s during his career—[[Jim Colborn]] in [[1977 Kansas City Royals season|1977]] and [[Bob Forsch]]'s second career no-hitter in [[1983 St. Louis Cardinals season|1983]].<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B05140KCA1977.htm May 14, 1977 Rangers-Royals box score at Retrosheet]</ref><ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1983/B09260SLN1983.htm September 26, 1983 Expos-Cardinals box score at Retrosheet]</ref> Porter was also notable for being one of the few Major League catchers of his time to wear eyeglasses behind the plate at a time when most players needing vision correction were using contact lenses.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*''Snap Me Perfect!: The Darrell Porter Story'', T. Nelson, 1984.  {{ISBN|0-8407-5367-5}}.  (With [[William Deerfield]].)

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=120678|espn=222|br=p/porteda02|fangraphs=1010450|brm=porter001dar}}  
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040315122311/http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2002/writing/over250/over250.columns.first3.html ''Dallas News'': "Darrell Porter's Sad Final Chapter"]
*[http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0812/1417225.html Autopsy: Porter had cocaine in system when he died]
*{{Find a Grave|6821292|Photo of Porter}}

{{1970 MLB Draft}}
{{1982 St. Louis Cardinals}}
{{World Series MVPs}}
{{NLCS MVP}}
{{Milwaukee Brewers 1st round}}
{{Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Darrell}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century evangelicals]]
[[Category:21st-century evangelicals]]
[[Category:American evangelicals]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Missouri]]
[[Category:Clinton Pilots players]]
[[Category:Cocaine-related deaths in Missouri]]
[[Category:Danville Warriors players]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in Missouri]]
[[Category:Evansville Triplets players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Royals players]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes]]
[[Category:Louisville Redbirds players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:National League Championship Series MVPs]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lee's Summit, Missouri]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Joplin, Missouri]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Oklahoma City]]
[[Category:Texas Rangers players]]
[[Category:World Series Most Valuable Player Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]