FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) -Darrin Winston, who pitched briefly for the Philadelphia Philies in the late 1990s, has died from leukemia. He was 42.
Winston was diagnosed with the disease this week and died Friday in Freehold Township.
Winston made his major league debut in 1997 and pitched 34 games for the Phillies in two seasons, going 4-2 with a 5.84 ERA. He played in the minor league systems of Montreal, Pittsburgh, the Mets and Angels, and later joined the independent Atlantic League.
At Rutgers, he set career records for wins and innings and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Winston steadily pursued his path to the majors, drifting through the minors, coming back from elbow surgery that sidelined him for an entire season and later playing semipro ball.
The lefty was nearly out of luck in June 1997, too, before he got a break.
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When the minor league season ended, Winston went home to New Jersey and kept working out, hoping for a call. And when manager Terry Francona and the Phillies approached a stretch of doubleheaders in September, they summoned Winston.
Winston made his big league debut at age 31, pitching one inning and giving up four runs – including a homer by Brian McRae – at Shea Stadium against the Mets.
Winston left his debut with a 36.00 ERA, but was able to smile about it.
“Things like this happen, but I waited too long to get here,” he said then.
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