Darrell Porter
Born: 1/17/1952 in Joplin, MO, USA
Died: 8/5/2002 in Sugar Creek, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1971-09-02 | Final Game: 1987-10-04
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 193 lbs
Full name: Darrell Ray Porter
Biography
Darrell Porter was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1971 to 1987. Born in 1952, Porter was known for his versatility as a position player, primarily excelling as a catcher and first baseman. Over the course of 1,782 games, he accumulated 1,369 hits, 188 home runs, and 826 RBIs, finishing his career with a batting average of .247. His ability to contribute offensively, combined with his defensive skills behind the plate, made him a valuable asset to his teams throughout his career.
Porter was recognized for his outstanding performances in high-pressure situations, earning accolades such as the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP during his time in the league. A four-time All-Star, he left a significant mark in the game, particularly during the late 1970s and early 1980s when he played a crucial role in the success of teams like the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals. His legacy is remembered not only for his individual achievements but also for his contributions to the teams he played for, solidifying his place in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1782 | 5539 | 765 | 1369 | 237 | 48 | 188 | 826 | 39 | 905 | 1025 | 0.247 | 0.354 | 0.409 | 0.763 | 10347.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | ATL | AL | 22 | 70 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 0.214 | -81.5 |
| 1972 | ATL | AL | 18 | 56 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 0.125 | -327.7 |
| 1973 | ATL | AL | 117 | 350 | 50 | 89 | 19 | 2 | 16 | 67 | 5 | 57 | 85 | 0.254 | 1208.7 |
| 1974 | ATL | AL | 131 | 432 | 59 | 104 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 56 | 8 | 50 | 88 | 0.241 | 172.3 |
| 1975 | ATL | AL | 130 | 409 | 66 | 95 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 60 | 2 | 89 | 77 | 0.232 | 1249.4 |
| 1976 | ATL | AL | 119 | 389 | 43 | 81 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 2 | 51 | 61 | 0.208 | -927.0 |
| 1977 | KCR | AL | 130 | 425 | 61 | 117 | 21 | 3 | 16 | 60 | 1 | 53 | 70 | 0.275 | 878.0 |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 150 | 520 | 77 | 138 | 27 | 6 | 18 | 78 | 0 | 75 | 75 | 0.265 | 1567.8 |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 157 | 533 | 101 | 155 | 23 | 10 | 20 | 112 | 3 | 121 | 65 | 0.291 | 3217.6 |
| 1980 | KCR | AL | 118 | 418 | 51 | 104 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 51 | 1 | 69 | 50 | 0.249 | 26.6 |
| 1981 | STL | NL | 61 | 174 | 22 | 39 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 31 | 1 | 39 | 32 | 0.224 | 461.2 |
| 1982 | STL | NL | 120 | 373 | 46 | 86 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 48 | 1 | 66 | 66 | 0.231 | 502.9 |
| 1983 | STL | NL | 145 | 443 | 57 | 116 | 24 | 3 | 15 | 66 | 1 | 68 | 94 | 0.262 | 1167.1 |
| 1984 | STL | NL | 127 | 422 | 56 | 98 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 68 | 5 | 60 | 79 | 0.232 | -48.1 |
| 1985 | STL | NL | 84 | 240 | 30 | 53 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 36 | 6 | 41 | 48 | 0.221 | 254.7 |
| 1986 | TEX | AL | 68 | 155 | 21 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 29 | 1 | 22 | 51 | 0.265 | 691.3 |
| 1987 | TEX | AL | 85 | 130 | 19 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 30 | 43 | 0.238 | 334.4 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 120 | 12 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 22 | 19 | 0.267 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | NLCS | SLN | 5 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0.267 |
| 1985 | WS | SLN | 5 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.133 |
| 1982 | NLCS | SLN | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0.556 |
| 1982 | WS | SLN | 7 | 28 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0.286 |
| 1980 | WS | KCA | 5 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.143 |
| 1980 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.100 |
| 1978 | ALCS | KCA | 4 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0.357 |
| 1977 | ALCS | KCA | 5 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.333 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 5 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| C | 1506 | 1430 | 6756 | 754 | 134 | 104 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | ML4 | C | 22 | 21 | 108 | 18 | 3 | 2 |
| 1972 | ML4 | C | 18 | 17 | 113 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
| 1973 | ML4 | C | 90 | 83 | 373 | 47 | 10 | 9 |
| 1974 | ML4 | C | 117 | 114 | 484 | 60 | 12 | 8 |
| 1975 | ML4 | C | 124 | 121 | 532 | 82 | 13 | 10 |
| 1976 | ML4 | C | 111 | 105 | 491 | 52 | 14 | 7 |
| 1977 | KCA | C | 125 | 121 | 663 | 61 | 13 | 4 |
| 1978 | KCA | C | 145 | 141 | 608 | 62 | 8 | 10 |
| 1979 | KCA | C | 141 | 141 | 628 | 68 | 13 | 15 |
| 1980 | KCA | C | 81 | 79 | 322 | 37 | 8 | 6 |
| 1981 | SLN | C | 52 | 51 | 206 | 31 | 5 | 2 |
| 1982 | SLN | C | 111 | 108 | 469 | 64 | 9 | 8 |
| 1983 | SLN | C | 133 | 121 | 578 | 70 | 7 | 8 |
| 1984 | SLN | C | 122 | 115 | 620 | 58 | 11 | 6 |
| 1985 | SLN | C | 82 | 68 | 386 | 26 | 4 | 4 |
| 1986 | TEX | C | 25 | 23 | 165 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 1987 | TEX | C | 7 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | TEX | 1B | 5 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1506 |
| First Base | 5 |
| Designated Hitter | 142 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | NLCS MVP | |
| 1982 | World Series MVP | |
| 1979 | TSN All-Star | C |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | TEX | AL | $162,500 |
| 1985 | SLN | NL | $740,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $902,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 52.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1978 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 48.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1973 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 3rd | 2.0 | 24 | 2 |