Darrell Porter 2002 Deaths

Darrell Porter

three-time all-star catcher and MVP of the 1982 World Series; first-round draft pick of the Brewers in 1971; played six seasons in Milwaukee; traded to Kansas City and made two All-Star Game appearances and won three AL pennants with the Royals; signed by St. Louis after the 1980 season; batted .286 and had 8 RBI for St. Louis in the 1982 World Series; played final two seasons in Texas; batted .247 and had 188 HR and 826 RBI in 17 major league seasons; sought drug rehab in 1980; his fight with drug addiction and recovery was chronicled in a 1984 book "Snap Me Perfect!: The Darrell Porter Story." He died of a condition called excited delirium, which caused his body to overheat and heart to stop (an autopsy revealed he had cocaine in his system).