Darius Dutton Hillman (September 14, 1927 – November 20, 2022) was an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, he played in Major League Baseball between the 1955 and 1962 seasons. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and 168 pounds (76 kg), he batted and threw right-handed. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving former Cincinnati Reds player[1] and he was the oldest living member of the 1962 New York Mets.[2]
In an eight-season career, Hillman posted a 21–37 record with 296 strikeouts and a 3.87 ERA in 188 games pitched, including 64 starts, eight complete games, one shutout, 42 games finished, three saves, 185 walks, and 624 innings pitched. Along with his Cubs teammate Jim Marshall, Hillman was part of the first inter-league trade without waivers in MLB history, when he went to the Boston Red Sox in return for Dick Gernert. The November 21, 1959, transaction was the first during a three-week period of unrestricted trading permitted by a change in both leagues' rules.[5]
Personal life and death
Hillman retired after many years of working in a clothing store[6] and lived in Kingsport, Tennessee.[7] He died on November 20, 2022, at the age of 95.[8]