| Daryl Patterson | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1943-11-21)November 21, 1943 Coalinga, California, U.S. | |
| Died: August 28, 2025(2025-08-28) (aged 81) Clovis, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 10, 1968, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 14, 1974, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 11–9 |
| Earned run average | 4.09 |
| Strikeouts | 142 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Daryl Alan Patterson (November 21, 1943 – August 28, 2025) was an American right-handed baseballpitcher. He played professional baseball for 12 years from 1965 to 1975, including parts of five seasons inMajor League Baseball with theDetroit Tigers (1968–1971),Oakland Athletics (1971),St. Louis Cardinals (1971), andPittsburgh Pirates (1974).
Patterson was born inCoalinga, California, on November 21, 1943.[1] He was partMono,[2] a Native American people from the Sierra Nevada region. He attendedCollege of the Sequoias inVisalia, California, where he played baseball and basketball.
Prior to the 1964 season, Patterson was signed as an amateur free agent by theLos Angeles Dodgers.[1] He spent the 1964 season with the Santa Barbara Dodgers in the California League. He appeared in 22 games and compiled a 1–6 win–loss record with a 6.60earned run average (ERA) for Santa Barbara.[3]
On November 30, 1964, the Detroit Tigers drafted Patterson in the 1964 first-year draft.[1] He spent the next three years in the Tigers' minor league organization, including stints with theRocky Mount Leafs (3.30 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 161 innings pitched in 1965),Montgomery Rebels (4.78 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched in 1966), andToledo Mud Hens (3.23 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 156 innings pitched in 1967).[3]
Patterson made hisMajor League Baseball debut with theDetroit Tigers on April 10, 1968.[1] During the 1968 season, he appeared in 38 games, 37 as a relief pitcher, and compiled a 2.12 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and seven saves in 68 innings pitched.[1] On July 27, 1968, he came into the game with the bases loaded and nobody out, and struck out the side.[4] In the1968 World Series, he pitched a total of three innings in Games 3 and 4 and did not allow an earned run.[1]
Patterson remained with the Tigers, though his ERA climbed to 2.82 in22+1⁄3 innings pitched in 1969 and 4.85 in 78 innings pitched in 1970.[1] In parts of four seasons with the Tigers, he compiled a 9–7 win–loss records with a 3.55 ERA and 121 strikeouts in177+2⁄3 innings pitched.[1]
Early in the 1971 season, Patterson balked in a run. The Tigers' new managerBilly Martin accused Patterson of doing it on purpose, an accusation that Patterson called "the craziest thing I’d ever heard."[5] Patterson later recalled that Martin "just didn't like me" and arranged to have him traded on May 22.[5]
On May 22, 1971, the Tigers traded Patterson to theOakland Athletics forJohn Donaldson.[1] He appeared in only four games for the Athletics, compiling a 7.94 ERA in5+2⁄3 innings pitched.[1] On June 25, 1971, the Athletics sold Patterson to the St. Louis Cardinals. He appeared in 13 games for the Cardinals, compiling a 4.39 ERA in26+2⁄3 innings pitched.[1]
Patterson spent the next two seasons in the minor leagues with theIowa Oaks (5.37 ERA in 52 innings pitched in 1972) andCharleston Charlies (3.07 ERA in 82 innings pitched in 1973).[3]
Patterson was acquired by thePittsburgh Pirates before the 1973 season. He was brought up to the Pirates in 1974, compiled a 7.29 ERA in 21 innings pitched, and appeared in his last major league game on September 14, 1974.[1] On July 14, 1974, Patterson was involved in a brawl during a game with theCincinnati Reds where he was bitten and had his hair pulled by Reds pitcherPedro Borbón. Patterson received atetanus shot after the incident.[6]
Patterson concluded his playing career playing in the Pirates' minor league organization with the Charleston Charlies in 1974 and 1975.[3] In five major league seasons, he compiled an 11–9 record with a 4.09 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 231 innings pitched. He appeared in 142 major league games, only three of them as a starting pitcher.[1]
Patterson had 35 at-bats without a hit in his major league career, with onerun batted in and twobases on balls in 37plate appearances.[1]
After retiring from baseball, Patterson worked for 20 years forPacific Gas & Electric.[7]
Patterson lived nearClovis, California. He died on August 28, 2025, at the age of 81.[8][9]