Gone before their times

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, June 27, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

The death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile at age 33 Saturday caught the baseball world by surprise. For Las Vegas 51s president and general manager Don Logan, it also brought back not-so-fond memories.

Six years ago -- May 26, 1996 to be exact -- the then-Las Vegas Stars had to deal with similar grief when popular outfielder Mike Sharperson died in a one-car accident on rain-slicked I-15, presumably while returning to his Green Valley home.

The 34-year-old Sharperson lost control of his car and flipped it at the McCarran International Airport exit. He died at the scene.

Sharperson had been called up to the Padres that day and was to catch a flight to Montreal a few hours later.

"The last time I saw him, I gave him $100 so he could tip the skycab and for cab fare," Logan said Wednesday at Cashman Field, where the 51s lost to Oklahoma 11-8.

"The accident Sharpie had and the way Kile died I think are more difficult on everybody because it happens so suddenly. When someone is sick for a while, you can at least prepare yourself a little for the worst. But when it happens so suddenly like that, it makes it tough for family and friends to accept."

Sharperson hasn't been forgotten at Cashman Field. A color photo from a ceremony honoring him hangs on the wall just outside the office of 51s manager Brad Mills. And his No. 15 jersey has been retired.

"Nobody will ever wear No. 15 again here," Logan said.

After the initial shock, Logan said Sharperson's death helped to motivate the Stars for the remainder of the season. Las Vegas went on to play in the Pacific Coast League playoffs, the last time the club has reached the postseason. Logan said he wouldn't be surprised if St. Louis did the same this year.

"(Our players) rallied around it," Logan said. "It took time. They were in shock for a while. But the players later took it that they didn't want to let him down. They used it as motivation to go out and play hard every day."

Logan said he met Kile briefly two years ago at the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"He was there with Rick Sutcliffe and Phil Nevin and his agent, Barry Axelrod," Logan said.

Earlier this year, former Stars outfielder Mike Darr died in an auto accident not far from the Padres' spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. Darr played for the Stars in 1999 and 2000.

"That was tough because -- like Kile -- he had some young kids he left behind," Logan said. "That's what really gets to you, knowing they're leaving behind kids who will never get to know their dad growing up."

Oklahoma starter Doug Davis threw 46 pitches and allowed seven earned runs in the first, but settled down to get the win.

Phil Hiatt, Rick Bell and David Ross homered for the 51s.