Send us your memories of a baseball legend.

Kile's best season was 2000, when he went 20-9 with a 3.91 ERA in his first year with St. Louis - finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting.

He also helped St. Louis advance to the NL championship series against the Mets that season.

Last year he was 16-11 with a 3.09 ERA and threw 227 1-3.

He leaves behind a wife Flynn, and twins, son Kannon and daughter Sierra and a son born last summer.

This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.

A death is tragic at any time, but the taking of a man who seemed perfectly healthy and in his prime is a sad, sad loss. Those of us who love baseball will remember Kile as pitcher who had one of the most devastating curveballs in the game. Even if you knew it was coming you still couldn't hit it.

It has been a tragic week for the Cardinals organisation. My thoughts and prayers go out to the organisation, and the families and friends of Darryl Kile and Jack Buck.
Geyv, UK

As a St. Louisan and long-time Cardinals fan, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the Kile family, his team-mates and all of his friends and fans across the country. We will undoubtedly miss his leadership, toughness, and talent.

He was a tremendous pitcher who combined the best right-handed curveball in the game with a very good fastball and varied release points on his pitches. In his career he was incredibly durable, didn't miss many starts and never spent a single day on the injured list. Although I did not know him personally, by all accounts he was a loving family man, beloved team-mate and a very kind man.

Darryl, I consider myself very fortunate to have seen you play in person and would like to thank you for the many enjoyable hours I had watching you play. We will miss you.
Jon, St. Louis, USA

He was one of the greatest baseball players of all time - the ultimate sports professional.
Rupert, England

I am a Seattle Mariners fan and a sports fan in general. When I heard the news about Darryl Kile, my heart sunk. It is always hard losing someone who is still is relatively young and still has a lot to do in life. My condolences go out to his family and friends, the St. Louis Cardinal organisation and his fans.
Melissa Wiebe, Canada

Darryl Kile was one of the leaders in this team - a mentor to the young guys like Rick Ankeil. We here in the Cardinal Nation (St Louis area) will miss him deeply not just because of his great control on the mound, and his leadership on the bench and in the bull pen, but for his charity work around the area. Not two weeks ago he and his wife were at a local children's hospital giving teddy bears to sick children. He and his family are in our prayers
Patrick O'Driscoll, St Louis, USA

Go rest high on that mountain... your work on earth is done. Rest in peace, Darryl Kile. The sports world misses you.
Darien Brooks, USA

I graduated high school with Darryl in Norco, California and he always had a smile for me and a funny conversation. I'll miss you Darryl, you are one of my few good memories of high school. Take care.
Lisa Yorke, USA

As a Cardinals fan since birth, I am saddened by this loss. As a man of 33 with two kids under the ages of two, I feel this even deeper. I have always watched Darryl Kile with amazement, just last week he made the lead off hitter jump from the box in fright from that amazing curve ball. I wish the Cardinals well and hope they can devote their season to two great losses in one week.
Matthew Martin, USA

Kile's death is tragic and shocking. My sympathies extend beyond his friends, family, and fans. The awareness of a 33-year-old professional athlete dying of a heart attack forces each of us to confront his or her own mortality - a sobering and chilling realization.
Scott Goldman, USA

I feel sorry for his family for having to go through this. God bless the Kile family and the baseball world. My thoughts will be with you.
Rue sanders, USA

Obviously his wife, children and family have suffered a great loss, and baseball has lost a great athlete - a real team player and a true gentleman. He will be missed.
Amy McCann, Australia

I watched Darryl pitch many times in Houston and followed his career from the very start. He certainly had the talent, but by all accounts he was also a wonderful human being. In the end, that is what counts. My heart goes out to his wife and family. What a tragic loss.
Paul, Houston, Tx USA

I just moved to the St. Louis area not to long ago. I attended my first Cardinals baseball came against the Cubs on 15 May. I remember asking my husband why they were putting a new pitcher in towards the end of the game.

He responded: "he is the closer". It was Mr Kile - and boy did he close out the game with a win! I had a blast, and I will always remember him as "the Closer". My deepest sympathy to his family.
Wendy Johnson, USA

I am a Cincinnati Reds fan, and an avowed anti-Cardinals person. I hate them with all my baseball heart, but when something like this happens, you realize how silly and petty such emotions really are, and how important the game is simply for the way it brings people together, not the division standings or home run race numbers.

Here's to you Darryl Kile, you were one of the hardest guys for us to beat. Good on ya, you'll be missed.
Jeremy Simmons, USA

I am from the UK but was stood inside Wrigley Field yesterday eagerly awaiting a great ball game. When the announcement came, a feeling of shock and disbelief spread throughout the stadium. I know that everybody's thoughts were immediately for Daryl's wife and children and the family he left behind.
Rob Shailes, UK/USA

Those of us who love baseball will remember Kile as pitcher who had one of the most devastating curveballs in the game. Even if you knew it was coming you still couldn't hit it.

I remember seeing the beautiful Gateway Arch in St Louis on holiday last year and wondering if it was anything like the trajectory of a DK curveball.

I'm numb today and my thought s are with DK's family and my fellow Cards fans worldwide. The Cardinal Nation has gone through it's toughest ever week - here's hoping that we look to DK's spirit and come out the other end a little stronger.
Haggischomper, Scotland

I was really shocked. We can never again witness his great spirit for baseball as well as his powerful curve ball. My condolences go to his wife and children.
Tm, Kim, S. Korea

A death is tragic at any time, but the taking of a man who seemed perfectly healthy and in his prime is a sad, sad loss.

Those of us who love baseball will remember Kile as pitcher who had one of the most devastating curveballs in the game. Even if you knew it was coming you still couldn't hit it.

It has been a tragic week for the Cardinals organisation. My thoughts and prayers go out to the organisation, and the families and friends of Darryl Kile and Jack Buck.
Geyv, UK

I turned on my television today, expecting to watch a baseball game between the beloved Cubs and our rivals the Cardinals. When the Cubs team captain said that there was a tragedy in the Cardinals family, I knew it had to be the worst kind.

We take baseball for granted. It's part of our every day life. Darryl Kile was a good pitcher, one of those men who showed up for work every day and did his job... someone you took for granted. Now a healthy man at the young age of 33 lies dead. No matter what you think of his team or him as a person, no man at the age of 33 should not wake up the next morning.

Kile represented the best in baseball and in the city of St. Louis. I'm absolutely speechless at the loss of a man who was just entering the best part of his life.
Nick H, Chicago, USA

Darryl Kile was not only a great pitcher but a great teacher and a good man. He made it his mission to work with younger pitchers to help them delevop their skills. He took new team-mates under his wing to make them feel a part of the "family". This is such a tragic loss for all of baseball but especially the St Louis fans who were already in mourning. My deepest sympathies go out to Kile's young wife and their three little children.
Leann, USA

I'm a big Cardinals fan and I am gutted. This guy was THE man in the locker room. He was the consummate pro - he would take the younger guys under his wing, if he lost a game no-one else got the blame. He played the game the way it should be played.

A bad week already with the death of Jack Buck the legendary broadcaster, it just got infinitely worse. My thoughts go to his wife and three children.
Simon K, England

I have only liked baseball for the past five years and for those five years I saw in my mind one of the best fastball pitchers in the game. Even though I am a Mariners fan I still loved to watch Darryl play he was the Cards' best picther and brought not only good baseball skills but lit up the city of St Louis. Respect to his family and friends, he is going to be missed a lot. Rest in peace Darryl, England's baseball fans hold a thought for you!
Ali Casey, England

Darryl Kile was such a good player. His death is such a huge shock. He will be sadly missed by many.
James Hilsdon, England

Just really sad for his family and for St Louis, after Jack Buck died earlier in the week. A grey day for baseball.
Steve Bartley, UK

When I first heard the news, all I could say was "no way" over and over. We're talking about one of the best curveball pitchers in the game today who always gave everything he could. First Jack Buck and now Darryl. What a sad week it's been for the Cardinals.
Patrick Feltman, USA

As a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, I am totally devastated to hear the news of the death of Darryl Kile. He was the team leader; never complained that the team was losing or that he had a bad outing, a true team player. This is a total shock to the system.

I was at the Memorial for Jack Buck - the late Cardinals radio announcer who sadly passed away on Tuesday - and saw Kile, who seemed as healthy as ever.

He will be deeply missed on and off the field and I know when I go down to Busch Stadium in the future, it will never be the same without Kile being on the mound or in the dugout.
Jason Kiefer, St. Louis, USA

It has come as a terrible shock and surprise. When he was on his game he was a fantastic pitcher, among the very best. His 2000 season was masterful. A true hero to Cardinals fans, my best to his wife and family.
Brian McCoy, Dominican Republic

As an ex-pat American in Scotland, I love baseball as much as footie. Darryl Kile was an amazing curveball pitcher, with one of the most devastating benders in the game. His hard breaking ball -- unlike the old Frank Tanana banana balls -- made him one of the toughest pitchers to face. Too bad his career really spiralled down during his period in thin-air Colorado, where breaking balls did much less damage.

Despite how Kile died (and the speculations could run for days or weeks), he should be remembered for being a class pitcher. Baseball fans from Houston, St Louis and everywhere will miss this magician on the mound.
Mel, Scotland

For those of you in the UK, St. Louis is one of THE great baseball towns in America; past Cardinal stars like Stan Musial and Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith are pretty much demi-gods there.

The team lost Jack Buck, its veteran radio/TV announcer only five days ago and the city was still mourning that when this tragic news hit this afternoon.
Andrew, USA

A very, very sad week for Cardinals' fans - among whom I am proud to count myself. In the St. Louis community, Kile was widely respected as a pitcher and a gentleman. This loss, especially coming so soon after the loss of the beloved local baseball broadcaster Jack Buck, is stunning.

My best wishes go out to his family, friends, and team mates as they struggle with this tragic loss.
Alfred Wallace, USA

A great pitcher and a true gentleman. May his soul rest in Peace.
Andy, Canada

The baseball regular season consists of 182 games - 91 on the road. With all that travelling, teams really become tight families. The Cardinals have lost two members of their family this week. Their long-time radio announcer and now popular Darryl Kile. My family shares the shock and sadness of the Cardinals.
Ed Terry, US

Absolutely shocking, when I first heard it I thought it was somebody's idea of a really bad joke. I've been a huge baseball fan for about 20 years now and I've never seen anything like this. The last in season death I can remember rwas the Yankees' Thurman Munson in 1979.

There was no reason for Kile to die, his health was apparently perfect. Seeing Joe Girardi break down during his speech at Wrigley saying the game was cancelled was both surreal and heartbreaking. The cards lose their announcer and a great pitcher in one week which is unbelievable. a very, very sad day in baseball.
John, New York, USA

As a St. Louisan, this past week has been very difficult for sports fans. Only days ago, the St. Louis Cardinals lost their long time radio presenter, Jack Buck. Now Darryl Kile has passed. By all accounts, he was a true gentleman who brought honour to his family, team mates and the city of St. Louis.
Paul F, St. Louis, MO USA

I am just 18, but the death of Kile has shocked me! I have been a fan of baseball for a few years now, it is a sport that is sadly underrated in England!

Darryl kile was truly a gentleman of the game and an honour to watch! I am an avid Houston Astros fan, and he played seven seasons with the great team before becoming the ace of the Cardinals staff! He was an honour to watch and will be sadly missed! my regards go to his wife and children!
Pranav Patel, UK