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Remembering when Darren Daulton was embarrassed by the 1993 Phillies

Sound bites from that wonderful season, including when Daulton ripped his teammates in St. Louis.

You didn’t want to be on the other end of this stare, like a few Phillies were in early July, 1993. Daulton’s brief rant after a loss gave the Phillies a collective kick in the pants all the way to the World Series.
You didn’t want to be on the other end of this stare, like a few Phillies were in early July, 1993. Daulton’s brief rant after a loss gave the Phillies a collective kick in the pants all the way to the World Series.Read moreFILE

Some of the more interesting things said and written during the Phillies' magical 1993 season:

March 16: "I think everyone here believes we have an established, major-league ballclub this year," said Darren Daulton. "That's something we didn't have last year. I still think you can never get enough pitching. But when you get down here and you meet these guys and see what they can do, it makes a difference …You always want to think you have a chance at this time of year. But I think everybody on the team knows what we have here."

April 4: "We don't really have a captain," said Todd Pratt, the backup catcher, "but that doesn't mean much. Everyone here knows this is Dutch's team. He's the guy we all turn to."

May 10: "Don't analyze it, boys," said bench coach Larry Bowa after Daulton's grand slam helped beat the Pirates and improve the Phillies to 23-7. "Just let it ride. We're in the zone."

May 20: "Lenny Dykstra can be a catalyst for this team, and John Kruk can be a hitting machine, and Dave Hollins can be a star, and (Pete) Incaviglia and Jim Eisenreich and Milt Thompson and Mickey Morandini and the rest can be the hero for a day, but Daulton has become the constant, the foundation, an immovable force in the middle of that lineup and, maybe more important, behind the plate," wrote columnist Rich Hofmann.

June 7: "Daulton's standing with the public has taken an abrupt U-turn, which is rare in a city that hardly ever grants second chances. He was brutalized by the fans (in recent years), and yet when he could have bailed out as a free agent he didn't hesitate to re-up with the Phillies," columnist Bill Lyon wrote."I wasn't going to let a few loud-mouths drive me out of town," [Daulton] said grimly, "and the rest of the fans, well, I kind of identify with them. A lot of frustration has built up; they've been waiting a long time for a winner. I'd like to help give them one. I saw that '80 parade after they won the World Series. That was awesome. I can still see the celebrating."

July 1: "That was the most embarrassing game I've ever been a part of," said Daulton following a 14-5 loss at St. Louis in which the Phillies trailed 14-0. "I've been on some bad teams and I've been a very, very, very bad player. But that's the most embarrassed I've ever been."

Sept. 28: "This is what every player dreams about," Daulton said after the Phillies clinched the National League East in Pittsburgh. "Situations just like this."

Oct. 9: "I told the guys when we came in after the game: 'Let's just put this behind us and come back ready to play tomorrow,' " Daulton said after another lopsided loss put the Phillies in a 2-1 hole in the National League Championship Series.

Oct. 9 (continued): "It's always like we have risen to the occasion all year," reliever Larry Andersen said. "I'm not saying that we're gonna go out and win the next three games, but I don't think anybody in here thinks this thing is over." The Phillies actually did go out and win the next three games to advance to the World Series.

Oct. 13: "I've never had a better moment in baseball," Daulton said after the Phillies beat the Braves in six games. "I went crazy out there. I've just never had that kind of emotion before. I saw the house rocking, to know that something has happened that meant so much to three or four million people . . . it's hard to explain."

Oct. 21: "Try to keep them under 14 runs," said Daulton, breaking the tension for starting pitcher Curt Schilling prior to Game 5 of the World Series. The Phillies had lost 15-14 the previous night in a game that turned the series in Toronto's favor, 3-1.

Oct. 23: "Life's a (bleep)," said Mitch Williams after giving up the Joe Carter home run. "I could be diggin' ditches somewhere. Well, I'm not. I threw the pitch that cost us the World Series. That's tough. I'll deal with it."

Oct. 23: "Mitch is going to be all right," Daulton said. "There's no reason to hang his head."