From Cumberland to Rhode Island’s shore and back, Bob Darling blasted a baseball trail that brought the rugged Greely Institute product high honors at both ends and steady service in between.
The epitome of the good-hitting pitcher, Darling patrolled third base - sometimes second base - when not on the mound.
At either the hot corner or in the keystone sector, his basketball nurtured agility and accurate gun of an arm rendered firm support to his fellow pitcher.
Highlights of Darling’s four-year diamond career at Greely were his selection to the All-Triple-C team his junior year of 1951 and his .387 batting average his senior season of 1952.
Bob also bolstered the Falmouth Memorial Post American Le910n team and later Portland’s Caldwell Post combine.
What was to prove the apex of the Darling baseball saga - though many good things were still to follow back home - was a brilliant display of pitching and complementary stickwork after enlisting in the Navy, February, 1953.
Bob pitched and held down third base for the Naval Station Islanders in the Rhode Island Sunset League.
After posting a 5-2 record in 1953, that included a one-hitter, Greely’s pride pitched a perfect 8-0 card the following year with a parsimonious 1.42 earned-run average to pace the Islanders to the league championship.
Needless to say, Darling was an automatic all-star choice as he topped ail hurtles.
His Navy enlistment completed, Darling returned to Maine and enrolled in Portland Junior College.
Bob captained both the basketball and baseball teams in his two year tenure at P.J.C.
Dividing his defensive commitment between second base and the pitcher’s mound, Darling was regarded as a “very savvy pitcher’ by the man who should Know, his catcher, Don Lary.
Samples of Darling’s multiple contributions to P.J.C.’s success: Double, triple and home run backing his winning relief pitching stint in a {2-7 victory over the Bates College Junior Varsity; Two-run ninth-inning homer, completing the cycle after a single, double, and triple, in a 10-9 win over Maine Vocational technical institute.
Rounding out his thorough diamond education, Bob pastimed in the Portland twilight League.
His affiliations included the Woodfords Merchants and the classy Capitol theater Red Sox.
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