Former Brewers star Darryl Hamilton killed in apparent murder-suicide

As if the Milwaukee Brewers season wasn’t going bad enough,  an incident yesterday might have trumped all of this year’s low-lights.

Former Brewers outfielder Darryl Hamilton was killed in an apparent murder-suicide Sunday evening, according to several sources. Hamilton, 50, was the victim of several gunshots and was found by authorities in his Pearland, Texas home along with Monica Jordan, 44.

“Both of the dead suffered apparent gunshot wounds,” according to a Pearland Police Department statement. “Based on the initial investigation, it appeared as if Hamilton was the victim of several gunshots and that Jordan had a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Police also found a 14-month-old child in the house, unharmed. Hamilton and Jordan were the parents of the child, who was placed in Child Protective Services’ care.

The friendly player known as ‘Hambone’ or ‘Sausage Nose’ came up in the Brewers organization and stuck with the Brewers for good in 1990. In seven years as a Brewer, Hamilton played in over 650 games, hitting .290/.351/.384 in nearly 2,200 at bats. Hamilton was granted free agency after the 1995 season and was quickly signed by the Texas Rangers.

“Darryl was a wonderful player for our organization, but more importantly, he was a true gentleman and a great friend to many here.”–Doug Melvin

He had one of the best seasons of his career in his only year with the Rangers, banging out 184 hits and 29 doubles (career bests) in 148 games while handling 387 chances without an error in centerfield.

The Rangers did not sign Hamilton, who became a free agent after the solid season and became a San Francisco Giant as the calendar rolled over to 1997.

‘Hambone’ played a year and a half for the Giants before being traded at mid-season 1998 to Colorado. After a monster 51-game sample with the Rockies (.335/.406/.469), he once again became a free agent after the season, but was re-signed by the Rox two weeks later.

After another stellar half-season with Colorado, he was traded to the Mets after the All-Star game in 1999.

He finished his career with the Mets, playing in 150 games from 1999-2001, hitting .283/.368/.398 in 399 at bats. Hamilton appeared in his only World Series while with New York in 2000, going 0-for-3.

Hamilton worked in several jobs with Major League Baseball before becoming a game analyst for the MLB Network in 2013.

I remember him as someone who always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. He filled in for Bob Uecker on the Brewers Radio Network, weaving humor with baseball stories, much like the man he stood in for.

“All of us are stunned and saddened with the news of this horrible tragedy, something that is impossible for us to even begin to comprehend,” said Doug Melvin, the Brewers’ president of baseball operations and general manager Doug Melvin, who was GM of the Rangers when Hamilton played for them.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to Darryl’s family and friends, and he will be greatly missed. Darryl was a wonderful player for our organization, but more importantly, he was a true gentleman and a great friend to many here.”

Hamilton is also survived by two other sons, teenagers Donavan and Julian.