Ron Darling
From BR Bullpen
Ronald Maurice Darling
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
- School Yale University
- Debut September 6, 1983
- Final Game August 15, 1995
- Born August 19, 1960 in Honolulu, HI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Ron Darling, a high-profile player when he was with the New York Mets, pitched 13 seasons in the major leagues, winning 136 games. He won Game 4 of the 1986 World Series, a Series that the Mets went on to win in seven games.
Darling was the only major league player to come out of Yale University since the 1950's until Craig Breslow came up in 2005.
Roger Angell wrote an account of a famous 1981 college game involving Ron Darling of Yale University and Frank Viola of St. John's University. "Smoky" Joe Wood, former star pitcher and outfielder in the 1910's and 1920's and also long-time Yale University baseball coach, watched with Angell. Both pitchers threw shutout ball for 11 innings. St. John's won the game in the 12th inning.
Darling was drafted in the first round in 1981 by the Texas Rangers. He spent most of three years in the minors, getting traded to the New York Mets during that time. In his first full season in the majors, 1984, he won 12 games and went on to win in double figures each year from 1984-89 with a peak in 1988 when he won 17 games.
In his first American League start in 1991, he gave up only two singles, winning the game 3-0. In 1992, he carried five no-hitters in the the sixth inning. He carried two no-hitters into the eighth inning.
He threw a split-fingered fastball and a cut fastball.
Darling pitched for three teams in 1991, coming to the 1991 Oakland Athletics at the end of July. In 1992 with the A's, he went 15-10. He closed out his career spending parts of five seasons with the A's.
He was the Mets color man for television for 2006.
Darling's brother, Eddie Darling, was a first baseman in the New York Yankees' chain in 1981-1982.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- NL All-Star (1985)
- NL Gold Glove Award (1989)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1985, 1986, 1988 & 1992)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1984-1989 & 1992)
- Won a World Series with the New York Mets in 1986
