Darrell Whitmore facts for kids

Darrell Lamont Whitmore (born November 18, 1968) is an American former professional baseball player. He played for the Florida Marlins in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before playing professionally, he was a talented college athlete. He played both football and baseball for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Darrell Whitmore's Sports Journey

College Sports Star

Darrell Whitmore was a standout athlete at West Virginia University. He played both football and baseball for the school.

Football Highlights

Whitmore started his football journey in 1988 as a freshman. He played as a free safety. He was a key player during the Mountaineers' amazing undefeated season. However, he broke his leg in the last regular game. This injury was one reason West Virginia lost to the University of Notre Dame in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl.

In his first year, Whitmore made 61 tackles. He also recovered two fumbles and forced one. He caught four interceptions, returning one for a 34-yard touchdown. This was his only touchdown in college.

As a sophomore in 1989, he continued to play well. He had 68 tackles and three interceptions. In 1990, his junior year, he recorded 64 tackles and four interceptions. In his final college season, he had 23 tackles and three interceptions. Overall, Whitmore made 216 tackles and 14 interceptions in his four years.

Baseball Skills

While playing football, Whitmore was also a great baseball player. He played right field for the college team. He became known as one of the best hitters in the school's history.

Professional Baseball Career

Darrell Whitmore was chosen by the Cleveland Indians in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 46th player picked overall. He signed with the team on June 13, 1990.

Joining the Marlins

The Florida Marlins picked Whitmore in the 1992 MLB expansion draft. He was the 16th player chosen by the new team. Whitmore made his big league debut with the Marlins on June 25, 1993. He played in Major League Baseball for three years, from 1993 to 1995.

Later Career and Stats

After his time in MLB, Whitmore played in the minor leagues. He played in AAA ball for different teams from 1996 to 2001.

In his Major League career, Whitmore played 112 games. He hit 5 home runs and had 67 hits. He also had 21 RBIs, which means he helped score 21 runs.

He also played briefly in Japan in 1996. He joined the Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Chiba Lotte Marines. In 57 games with them, he hit 12 home runs. He also had a batting average of .266, which is quite good.