Darryl Kile 2002 Deaths

Darryl Kile

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, who died in his sleep just three days after pitching his team into first place in the National League's Central Division and less than 24 hours after the funeral for longtime Cardinals announcer Jack Buck; teammates knew him as "D.K.," and described him as a first-at-the-park team leader; 6-5, 212 lb. right-hander, who depended on his knee-locking curveball for success, but had added to his repertoire in recent years; won 133 games and had a 4.12 ERA in 12 major league seasons with Houston, Colorado and St. Louis; was 5-4 in 14 starts with a 3.72 ERA in 2002; drafted by Houston in 1987; made major league debut in 1991 with the Astros; signed with Colorado before 1998 season; won 20 games in 2000, his first season with St. Louis; had four seasons with 15+ wins and five seasons where he pitched 200+ innings; recorded ninth no-hitter in Astros' history on Sept. 8, 1993, beating the Mets, 7-1; three-time NL All-Star. He died of hardening of the coronary artery.