Darryl Kile
A gentle giant whose number 57 is honored by fans and remembered through tributes across three franchises.
Darryl Andrew Kile (December 2, 1968 – June 22, 2002) was an American professional baseball starting pitcher known for his sharp, big-breaking curveball. After seven seasons with the Houston Astros, he joined the Colorado Rockies in 1998 as a free agent, then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent on December 22, 1999. In his first season with St. Louis, Kile went 20–9, becoming the first Cardinal pitcher since Bob Tewksbury in 1992 to win 20 games in a season. He made his third All-Star team and finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting that year. Tragically, on June 22, 2002, during pregame warmups for a game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Kile was found dead in his hotel room at age 33.
- Affiliation
- St. Louis Cardinals (2000–2002)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Kile's time with the Cardinals began in 2000 after he signed as a free agent from the Colorado Rockies. He struggled initially in Colorado, posting a combined record of 21–30 with high ERAs before joining St. Louis. His turnaround was immediate; in his first season with the Cardinals, he won 20 games and earned an All-Star selection. In 2000, he secured his first playoff victory in Game 1 of the NLDS against Atlanta, though the team eventually lost the NL Championship Series to the Mets. The following year, despite an injured shoulder requiring surgery after the playoffs, Kile went 16–11 with a 3.09 ERA over 227+1⁄3 innings. His final season in 2002 saw him pitch seven and two-thirds innings against the Anaheim Angels on June 18, though the Cardinals were already in first place in the NL Central Division before that game.
In Their Own Story
On June 22, 2002, team personnel noticed Kile's absence during pregame warmups for a scheduled game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Hotel staff entered his room and found him dead in bed under the covers. An autopsy revealed an enlarged heart, two coronary arteries 90% blocked, and a blood clot in one artery. At 2:37 pm CDT, Cubs catcher Joe Girardi tearfully announced the game's cancellation to the crowd, citing a "tragedy in the Cardinal family." Jack Buck's son, Joe Buck, reported Kile's death from the broadcast booth. The Cardinals honored him by writing "DK 57" on their hats and placing a small sign in the home bullpen. Later that season, when the team clinched the division, Albert Pujols carried Kile's number 57 jersey to the celebration.
Reader's Guide
Darryl Kile never went on the disabled list during his 12-season major league career, despite requiring shoulder surgery after the 2001 playoffs. His death made him the first active major league player to die during the regular season since 1979. In tribute, the Cardinals wrote "DK 57" on their hats and placed chalk in concourses for fans to write messages. The Astros have not assigned his number 57 to another player since his passing, while the Rockies kept it out of rotation until 2023. In 2003, the Baseball Writers' Association of America granted Kile an exemption to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot; he received seven votes and was eliminated from future consideration. The Darryl Kile Good Guy Award was established in 2003 to honor players who exemplify his traits as a teammate, friend, father, and humble man.
Did You Know?
- Kile's four-seam fastball topped out at only 78 mph in high school before a growth spurt added 13 mph and 20 pounds to his frame.
- He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 30th round of the 1987 Major League draft.
- Kile pitched a no-hitter against the New York Mets on September 8, 1993.
- His death came just four days after longtime Cardinal broadcaster Jack Buck passed away.
- The Darryl Kile Good Guy Award is presented annually to one player each from the Astros and Cardinals.