PN Interview: Darren Daulton

Last weekend, Phillies Nation was granted VIP Access to Sports Vault’s All Access program at the Philadelphia Sports Card Show and Convention. There, we were able to speak to a number of the guests which included many Phillies, past and present. For the next week, please check out our exclusive interviews and give our friends at Sports Vault a click for the best sports memorabilia and upcoming autograph signings!

Note: This interview with Daulton was conducted under the context of it being used for the final product of our upcoming Phillies Nation 100 project. To read Daulton’s PN Top 100 entry, please click here.

Ian Riccaboni, PN: We’ll start with a tough one – what was your favorite moment as a Phillie?

Darren Daulton: The ’93 season.

IR, PN: Any particular game or moment that sticks out?

DD: Not really! It was, well, that year we had such a good team that it was every day there was something you could see. Whether it was Dude, who was the greatest lead-off hitter ever, in the game, swear to God, during ’93 or (Terry) Mulholland or any of the teammates I had, it was definitely ’93.

IR, PN: You were the only player who bridged the ’83 team to the ’93 team. What was it like playing with (Mike) Schmidt, (Pete) Rose…

DD: Tony Perez! Joe Morgan! Garry Maddox! Lefty! It was my first year and it was a learning session. It’s kind of where I broke in. These guys used to do stuff to me… *laughs* if it’s going in a book, I don’t want them to read about it! *laughs* But that team was a lot of fun.

IR, PN: What was it like being an All-Star for the Phillies in an era of transition from non-contender to contender?

DD: If you make an All-Star team, ya know, that means you’re an All-Star, one of the best players at your position. It was just fun!

IR, PN: Last question: favorite battery mate?

DD: There’s one of them right there! (points to Terry Mulholland). Terry Mulholland. Ya know, Schilling was very good at that time and he was still a younger player. But you know, from a catcher’s standpoint, it was easy to catch those two guys.