This Date in Phillies (and MLB) History: January 3

Phillies Events on January 3
2019 – The Philadelphia Phillies signed veteran reliever David Robertson to a two-year, $23 million free agent contract. Robertson returned for what would be his third stint with the team in 2025, joining the team around the midpoint of the season.

MLB Events on January 3
1885 – The National League’s recently disbanded Cleveland Blues released all of its players, a sign of instability in early professional baseball.
1920 – The sale of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $100,000 was publicly announced, marking a turning point in MLB history.
1961 – Ground was broken for the Astrodome in Houston, the future home of the Colt .45s/Astros and the first domed stadium in major league history.
1973 – George Steinbrenner led a group of investors in purchasing the New York Yankees, beginning an era of significant change for that franchise.
1977 – The Chicago White Sox hired Mary Shane as the first woman to do television play-by-play for a major league team, breaking a gender barrier in baseball broadcasting. Later that year, the Ludtke Lawsuit would further change the history of women in sports journalism.

Phillies Birthdays on January 3
Buzz Arlett (1899) – Nicknamed the “Babe Ruth of the minor leagues,” Arlett was one of the most prolific power hitters in minor league history. His only season in the majors was with the Phillies in 1931 and he hit 18 home runs, drove in 72 runs, and hit .313. In December of ’31 he was traded to Baltimore but never played in the majors after his stint with the Phillies.

Gus Suhr (1906) – Played 11 seasons in the majors primarily with Pittsburgh, but played his final two seasons (1939, 1940) with the Phillies. A first baseman known for his durability and consistent hitting during the 1930s, Suhr set an NL consecutive games played record at the time. Beginning on September 11, 1931 and continuing until June 4, 1937, Suhr played in 822 consecutive games. The streak was broken when he attended his mother’s funeral. It was the longest streak until Stan Musial broke it 20 years after Suhr’s ended.

Darren Daulton (1962) – An All-Star catcher who spent the bulk of his career with the Phillies, leading MLB catchers in home runs in the early 1990s and anchoring Philadelphia’s lineup and clubhouse for much of that decade.

A.J. Burnett (1977) – A hard-throwing right-hander who spent one of his 17 seasons with the Phillies in 2014 when he led all of baseball in starts with 34 and in losses with 18. The following season he pitched for Pittsburgh and posted a 3.18 ERA and made his first and only all-star team.

MLB Birthdays on January 3
Gary Lavelle (1949) – A left-handed relief pitcher who enjoyed a solid MLB career primarily with San Francisco, but he also pitched for Toronto and Oakland. Lavelle had 136 saves in a 13-year career.

A DEEPER DIVE… Darren Daulton

Darren Daulton’s career with the Phillies began quietly, without much fanfare, but it did not take long for people inside the organization to realize they had something different on their hands. Drafted by the Phillies in 1980, Daulton spent nearly a decade grinding through the minor leagues, often overlooked and frequently injured. By the time he reached the majors in the late 1980s, he was older than most prospects and already carrying the physical scars of a catcher’s life. What he lacked in polish or hype, he made up for with toughness, baseball IQ, and an edge that instantly resonated with teammates.

Becoming the Phillies’ Catcher

Daulton established himself as the Phillies’ primary catcher in the early 1990s, a period when the team was searching for both stability and identity. Catching was brutal on his body from the start. Knee problems surfaced early, limiting his mobility and forcing him to play through constant pain. He also dealt with back issues, hand injuries, and the cumulative wear that comes from years of squatting and absorbing foul tips. Despite this, Daulton emerged as one of the most productive offensive catchers in baseball, especially during the 1992 and 1993 seasons, when his power numbers rivaled those of corner infielders.

The 1993 season cemented Daulton’s legacy in Philadelphia. That Phillies team was built on attitude, resilience, and chemistry, and Daulton sat right at the center of it. As the everyday catcher, he controlled the pitching staff and acted as a stabilizing force during long stretches of chaos. His clubhouse presence mattered as much as his bat. Daulton was not the loudest voice, but when he spoke, players listened. He helped manage strong personalities, diffuse tension, and reinforce the idea that the team could beat anyone if it stayed together. His leadership helped guide the Phillies through a memorable run to the World Series.

Injuries and Reinvention

After 1993, injuries began to take an even heavier toll. Chronic knee problems worsened, eventually forcing the Phillies to move Daulton away from catching. He transitioned into left field, a difficult adjustment for someone whose instincts and identity were built behind the plate. The move kept his bat in the lineup but did not erase the physical issues. He continued to battle nagging injuries, including knee surgeries that sapped his speed and range. Even so, Daulton remained productive at the plate, particularly as a power hitter, and he adapted his approach to compensate for what his body was no longer capable of doing.

Playing through injury defined much of Daulton’s career, and it came with emotional consequences. The frustration of wanting to help while feeling physically limited weighed on him. Teammates often spoke about how much pain he endured just to take the field. Daulton rarely complained publicly, choosing instead to internalize the struggle. That toughness earned him deep respect inside the clubhouse, even as it shortened his prime years. He became a symbol of perseverance for younger players, showing them that grit and accountability mattered just as much as talent.

Later Years and Departure from Philadelphia

As the Phillies transitioned into a new phase in the mid-to-late 1990s, Daulton’s role changed again. He remained a respected veteran but saw his playing time reduced as injuries mounted. Eventually, his time in Philadelphia came to an end, and he finished his major league career with the Florida Marlins, where he was traded during the 1997 season. While his final seasons lacked the impact of his peak years, they did not erase what he meant to the Phillies. By the time he left, Daulton had become one of the defining figures of the franchise’s early 1990s identity.

Legacy in the Phillies Clubhouse

Daulton’s legacy is rooted as much in leadership as in numbers. He was a catcher who led pitching staffs with intelligence and empathy, a veteran who understood how to manage egos, and a teammate who set standards without needing to grandstand. His influence extended beyond the field, shaping the culture of Phillies teams that valued toughness and unity. Even years after his playing career ended, former teammates continued to reference his presence as a key reason those teams worked.

Darren Daulton’s career was not defined by longevity or pristine health. It was defined by resilience, adaptability, and leadership under difficult circumstances. Injuries robbed him of time and physical freedom, but they never stripped away his role as a leader. For Phillies fans, Daulton remains a reminder that greatness does not always come from perfect circumstances. Sometimes it comes from showing up hurt, holding teammates together, and finding a way to matter when it would be easier to step aside. Darren Daulton passed away on August 6, 2017 at the age of 55 in Clearwater, Florida.

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