Brain cancer kills Phillies icon at 55

PHILADELPHIA — Darren Daulton, the All-Star catcher who was the leader of the Phillies’ National League championship team in 1993, has died.

Daulton, 55, had battled brain cancer since 2013. He had two tumors removed during brain surgery July 1, 2013. But nine days later he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that also took the lives of former teammate Tug McGraw and former coach John Vukovich.

Daulton played 141⁄2 of his 15 major-league seasons with the Phillies and finished his career with the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins, batting .389 (7-for-18) with two doubles and one home run in a seven-game series against the Indians.

The left-handed-hitting Daulton batted .245 with 137 homers and 588 RBIs in 1,161 games. He went to three All-Star Games and led the NL with 109 RBIs in 1992.

The long-haired Daulton was beloved by Phillies fans and respected by teammates. He policed a wild clubhouse in ’93 that included Lenny Dykstra, John Kruk, Dave Hollins, Pete Incav- iglia, Mitch Williams and Curt Schilling.

“Darren was a true leader of men,” Phillies chairman emeritus Bill Giles said in a statement. “The Phillies would not have gone to the 1993 World Series without his leadership.

“In addition to being an outstanding clubhouse leader, he was also a fighter. He battled through five knee operations to become an All-Star. I really enjoyed watching him for 14 years in uniform.

“Darren was a super human being. His teammates loved him. I loved him like he was one of my own.”