DATE SHOT: 1990-91 SUBJECT: Darrel Akerfelds PHOTOGRAPHER: Jack Wallin APPROXIMATE SIZE: 35mm in standard 2"x2" slide mount ORIGINAL or REPRINT: Original Film COMMENTS / CONDITION: See scans for further details including condition. Darrel Wayne Akerfelds was born in 1962 in Denver, CO and died in 2012 in Phoenix, AZ. He went to college at Mesa State College and the University of Arkansas. He played major league baseball from 1986 to 1991 as pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Following his playing days, Akerfelds joined the San Diego Padres organization as pitching coach of the Clinton Lumberkings in 1997. After two years in the same role with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, he was a member of the Las Vegas Stars staff in 2000. He began 2001 as pitching coach of the Portland Beavers and in June was promoted to the Padres big league staff as bullpen coach when Greg Booker was moved to pitching coach. In late 2010, Akerfelds was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. He underwent many rounds of chemotherapy in Phoenix but kept his job, missing only 14 days of the 2011 season, describing baseball as "the best therapy I know." He had an operation following the season, but it proved impossible to surgically remove the tumor. However, it had stopped growing, giving him hope and allowing him to return to the Padres to begin 2012. His final game in uniform came on April 15th, and he lost his battle with the disease on June 24th. His uniform was carried by the relief pitchers from the bullpen into the dugout prior to that afternoon's game, which the Padres won 2-0 over their interleague rivals, the Seattle Mariners. Akerfelds was 50 years old.SKU: TC0249, TC0350, TC1867, TC1868, TC1869, TC1870, TC0349
Item: TC4008
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