Mike Darr

{{Short description|American baseball player (1976-2002)}} {{for|the pitcher|Mike Darr (pitcher)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{good article}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Mike Darr |image=Mike_Darr_2002_Topps.png |image_size= |caption=Portrait from the back of Darr's 2002 Topps card |position=Outfielder |bats=Left |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date|1976|3|21}} |birth_place=Corona, California, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|2002|2|15|1976|3|21}} |death_place=Peoria, Arizona, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=May 23 |debutyear=1999 |debutteam=San Diego Padres |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=October 7 |finalyear=2001 |finalteam=San Diego Padres |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.273 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=5 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=67 |teams= *San Diego Padres ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2001}}) }} '''Michael Curtis Darr''' (March 21, 1976 – February 15, 2002) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who played from 1999 through 2001 for the San Diego Padres. He was the son of Mike Darr, Sr., who pitched in one game for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977. Darr batted left-handed but threw right-handed.

Born and raised in Corona, California, Darr was a second-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers out of high school in 1994. Traded to the San Diego Padres before the 1997 season, he made his MLB debut with the team in 1999. After playing 58 games with the Padres in 2000, Darr was named the team's Opening Day right fielder in 2001, serving as the everyday player at that position until August.

During 2002 spring training, Darr and a passenger were killed in a single-car accident in Peoria, Arizona. Darr, the driver, had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit and was not wearing a seat belt. He was buried at the Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, California; the Padres wore a black patch with the number 26 on it on their uniforms for the rest of the 2002 season in tribute.

==Early life== Darr was born on March 21, 1976, in Corona, California, to parents Mike Sr. and Debbie. His father pitched in one game for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977.<ref name="reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darrmi02.shtml|title=Mike Darr Stats|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Russo">{{cite book|last=Russo|first=Frank|title=The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises|location=New York|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4422-3639-4|pages=234–235}}</ref><ref name="ex-athlete">{{cite web|last=Soifer|first=Jerry|url=https://www.pressenterprise.com/2011/07/24/corona-ex-athlete-recovering-from-shock-accident/|title=Corona: Ex-athlete recovering from shock accident|work=The Press-Enterprise|date=July 24, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> Darr also had a younger brother named Ryan who would be drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996 and play minor league baseball for five years.<ref name="ex-athlete"/> Growing up, Darr was good friends with Darrin Chiaverini, a future National Football League player and coach, and with Duane Johnson, the son of UCLA assistant football coach Don Johnson.<ref name="Henson"/> At Corona High School, Darr played on the baseball team and earned All-California Interscholastic Federation honors.<ref name="ex-athlete"/> However, during his time in high school, Darr also began to struggle with substance abuse. He went to live with the Johnson family, and Duane's father took Darr to counseling, which helped him overcome his drug addiction.<ref name="Henson">{{cite news|last1=Henson|first1=Steve|title=Friends to the end|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/25/sports/sp-johnsondarr25/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907083814/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/25/sports/sp-johnsondarr25/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2014|access-date=May 29, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=25 September 2002}}</ref> Darr graduated from high school in 1994 and married his high school sweetheart.<ref name="reference"/><ref name="Henson"/>

==Playing career==

=== Detroit Tigers organization (1994–96) === The Detroit Tigers selected Darr in the second round of the 1994 MLB draft.<ref name="Russo"/> He began his professional career with the Bristol Tigers of the rookie-level Appalachian League, batting .275 with 23 runs scored, 41 hits, 1 home run, and 18 runs batted in (RBI).<ref name="minors"/> Darr was a left-handed batter, though he threw right-handed.<ref name="reference"/> He advanced to the Fayetteville Generals of the Single-A South Atlantic League in 1995, batting .289 with 58 runs scored, 114 hits, 5 home runs, and 66 RBI in 112 games.<ref name="minors"/>

By 1996, ''Baseball America'' ranked Darr the seventh-best prospect in the Tigers organization.<ref name="Baseball America">{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=J. J. |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/1983-2000-top-10-prospects-rankings-archive/|title=1983-2000 Top 10 Prospects Rankings Archive|work=Baseball America|date=January 22, 2019|access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> That season, he played in 85 games for the Lakeland Tigers of the Single-A advanced Florida State League, batting .248 with 26 runs scored, 77 hits, 0 home runs, and 38 RBI in 85 games.<ref name="minors">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=darr--001mic|title=Mike Darr Minor Leagues Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref> Late in 1997 spring training, he was traded to the San Diego Padres with Matt Skrmetta for Jody Reed on March 22.<ref name="Russo"/>

=== San Diego Padres ===

==== Single-A advanced and Double-A (1997–98) ==== Darr remained at the Single-A advanced level with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League in 1997.<ref name="minors" /> In one game for the Quakes, he had six hits in six at bats, a franchise record later tied by Jorbit Vivas in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/quakes-destroy-storm-on-tuesday/n-5703082|title=Quakes Destroy Storm on Tuesday|work=Our Sports Central|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> This season, Darr hit 15 home runs in 134 games. He ranked among the California League leaders with a .344 batting average (fourth behind Mike Stoner's .358, Mike Mitchell's .350, and Todd Wilson's .345), 104 runs scored (third behind Stoner's 115 and Tim Garland's 106), 179 hits (second behind Stoner's 203), and 94 RBI (seventh).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=1415b495|title=1997 California League Batting Leaders|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> He also stole 23 bases, getting caught only seven times.<ref name="minors" /> In recognition of Darr's strong season, the Padres named him their Minor League Player of the Year.<ref name="East Village">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=James|url=https://www.eastvillagetimes.com/remembering-former-padres-outfielder-mike-darr/|title=Remembering former Padres' outfielder Mike Darr|work=East Village Times|date=February 15, 2021|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>

Not chosen as one of San Diego's Top 10 prospects by ''Baseball America'' in 1997, Darr was ranked by them as the sixth-best prospect in the Padres organization in 1998.<ref name="Baseball America"/> He played 132 games with the Double-A Mobile BayBears of the Southern League. He hit 6 home runs and finished among the league leaders with a .310 batting average (eighth), 105 runs scored (second to Gabe Kapler's 113), 162 hits (fourth behind Kapler's 176, Carlos Lee's 166, and Robert Fick's 164), and 90 RBI (sixth). Darr ranked sixth in the league with 28 stolen bases, getting caught only eight times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=aebcd381|title=1998 Southern League Batting Leaders|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref>

==== In the Minors and the Majors (1999–2000) ==== Darr was ranked the fourth-best prospect in the Padres organization by ''Baseball America'' in 1999, behind only Matt Clement, Ben Davis, and Junior Herndon.<ref name="Baseball America"/> He began the season with the Triple-A Las Vegas Stars of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) but was promoted to the Padres in May.<ref name="minors"/><ref name="1999 Darr">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=darrmi02&t=b&year=1999|title=Mike Darr 1999 Batting Gamelogs|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> He made his major league debut on May 23, pinch-hitting for Rubén Rivera and striking out in the ninth inning of a 6–2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN199905230.shtml|title=Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres Box Score, May 23, 1999|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> Starting in right field against the Arizona Diamondbacks the following day, he got his first major league hit, a single against Andy Benes in a 6–5 loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI199905240.shtml|title=San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks Box Score, May 24, 1999|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> Facing the Oakland Athletics in an interleague game on June 8, he hit his first major league home run, a solo affair against Tim Hudson as the Padres won 5–3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN199906080.shtml|title=Oakland Athletics at San Diego Padres Box Score, June 8, 1999|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> After making seven starts for San Diego in right field and batting .226, he was sent back to Las Vegas on June 13 when Tony Gwynn came off the disabled list.<ref name="1999 Darr"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/14/sports/transactions-158720.html|title=Transactions|work=The New York Times|date=June 14, 1999|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> In 100 PCL games, he batted .298 with 57 runs scored, 114 hits, 10 home runs, 62 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts.<ref name="minors"/> The Padres again called him up in September, and he was used as a defensive replacement in right field for much of the final month of the major league season.<ref name="1999 Darr"/> In 25 games for San Diego, Darr batted .271 with 6 runs scored, 13 hits, 2 home runs, and 3 RBI.<ref name="reference"/> After the year, he was again named the Padres' Minor League Player of the Year.<ref name="home run"/>

In 2000, Darr fell to seventh in the ''Baseball America'' ranking of San Diego's top prospects.<ref name="Baseball America"/> He played in five games in April 2000 for the Padres but spent most of the season's first four months with Las Vegas.<ref name="2000 Darr">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=darrmi02&t=b&year=2000|title=Mike Darr 2000 Batting Gamelogs|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> In 91 games for Las Vegas, he batted .344 with 79 runs scored, 126 hits, 9 home runs, 65 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 22 tries.<ref name="minors"/> He was recalled by San Diego after the July 31 trade deadline, as the Padres dealt Al Martin, creating a vacancy in the outfield.<ref name="2000 Darr"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martial03.shtml|title=Al Martin Stats|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> Darr started in right field for the Padres for the rest of the year.<ref name="2000 Darr"/> In his first game back, on August 1, he hit a two-run home run against Robert Person in San Diego's 10–9 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200008010.shtml|title=Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres Box Score, August 1, 2000|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> On September 11, he stole home in a 7–2 win over the Colorado Rockies.<ref name="East Village"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200009110.shtml|title=Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres Box Score, September 11, 2000|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref> Darr played 58 games for the Padres in his second major league season, batting .268 with 21 runs scored, 55 hits, 1 home run, 30 RBI, and 9 stolen bases in 10 attempts.<ref name="reference"/>

==== Full major league season (2001) ==== In 2001, Darr was an Opening Day starter for the first time in his career, playing right field for the Padres.<ref name="reference"/><ref name="Russo"/> From May 2 to 23, he was on the disabled list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/?c_id=mlb&year=2001&month=5|title=Transactions - May 2001|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> On June 7, he had four hits and four RBI in a 10–7 victory over the San Francisco Giants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200106070.shtml|title=San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants Box Score, June 7, 2001|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> He began getting fewer starts in August and played sparingly in September, losing playing time to Bubba Trammell.<ref name="2001 Darr">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=darrmi02&t=b&year=2001|title=Mike Darr 2001 Batting Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=trammbu01&t=b&year=2001|title=Bubba Trammell 2001 Batting Gamelogs|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> Though he had skill defensively, Darr was not a power hitter.<ref name="Russo"/> He hit only two home runs in 2001, albeit both game-winners.<ref name="Russo"/> On August 16, his two-run, eighth-inning home run against Rick White of the New York Mets pushed San Diego to the lead in their 6–5 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200108160.shtml|title=New York Mets at San Diego Padres Box Score, August 16, 2001|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> Against the Giants in the 10th inning of a tie game on September 22, he hit a pinch-hit walkoff home run against Brian Boehringer, giving San Diego a 4–3 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200109220.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres Box Score, September 22, 2001|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> The ball did not initially have enough distance to be a home run, but it bounced off of outfielder Calvin Murray's glove to go into the stands. Little did Darr realize that this would be his last hit.<ref name="home run">{{cite web|last=Sanders|first=Jeff|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2020-09-22/padres-history-september-22-mike-darr|title=Padres history (Sept. 22): Mike Darr's tragic last hit|work=San Diego Union Tribune|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref> Darr appeared in 105 games during the season, compiling a .277 average with 2 home runs and 34 RBI.<ref name="reference"/>

==Personal life== Darr had a wife and two sons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Padres-Organization-Remembers-Darr-8789610.php|title=Padres' Organization Remembers Darr|work=My Plainview|date=February 19, 2002|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> Ther son Michael Jr. played right field at Corona High School, and threw for over 6,000 yards and 51 touchdowns as the school's quarterback.<ref name="East Village"/>

==Death== On February 15, 2002, Darr was involved in a single-car accident in Peoria, Arizona, during spring training. He was the driver of the vehicle, and his blood alcohol content was 0.11 percent, over the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Riding in the car with Darr were Ben Howard, a minor league pitcher in the Padres organization, and Duane Johnson, Darr's childhood friend who had been helping Darr move into an apartment. Both Darr and Johnson, who were not wearing safety belts, were killed. Howard, who had his safety belt on, survived with only minor injuries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padres' Darr Dies in Car Accident|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-16-sp-darr16-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=2002-02-16|last=Fernes|first=Rob}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/a959ab38e0d5fb4eb21bcc4955dfb6d9|title=Mike Darr Was Drunk in Fatal Crash|work=The Associated Press|date=March 13, 2002|access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>

More than 1,500 attended Darr's funeral, including nearly the entire Padres organization.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MLB - Padres, family and friends pay last respects to Darr|url=https://a.espncdn.com/mlb/news/2002/0220/1337604.html|website=ESPN|access-date=2025-11-28|date=2002-02-20|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="East Village" /> Darr was buried at the Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, California.{{cn|date=August 2022}} During its 2002 season, the Padres wore a black circle patch with Darr's uniform number 26 in white on the right sleeve of their uniform.<ref name="Russo"/>

Darr's manager with San Diego, Bruce Bochy, said Darr "was not just a good ballplayer. This young man was a person we all thought a lot about. A fun-loving guy, very well-liked by his teammates."<ref name="East Village"/> Trevor Hoffman, the team's closer, said, "We've lost a special teammate, a special person. There are a lot of heavy hearts in the locker room."<ref name="East Village"/> According to baseball historian Frank Russo, "He was known for a great sense of humor and intensity on the playing field, as well as his love of the game."<ref name="Russo"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats|br=d/darrmi02|fangraphs=1002993|brm=darr--001mic}}, or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/D/Pdarrm001.htm Retrosheet], or [https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6240999 Find-A–Grave (Biography)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darr, Mike}} Category:1976 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Alcohol-related deaths in Arizona Category:Bristol Tigers players Category:Fayetteville Generals players Category:Lakeland Tigers players Category:Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players Category:Major League Baseball center fielders Category:Mobile BayBears players Category:Baseball players from Corona, California Category:Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players Category:Road incident deaths in Arizona Category:San Diego Padres players