Inductees This native Peorian was born September 1, 1863. He played baseball for New York in 1887 when he hit .301 in 127 games. An outfielder, he was traded to Brooklyn where he played the 1888 through 1892 seasons, compiling 805 hits and 394 RBIs to go with a .282 career batting average.
Darby played in 709 games during his 6 year career while compiling a .934 fielding average. During the 1888 campaign, O'Brien patrolled left field while another Peorian, George Pickney, played 3rd base for Brooklyn.
He helped lead Brooklyn to the 1889 pennant as he stole a league leading 91 bases and scored 146 runs, while Brooklyn edged St. Louis by 1 game on the last day of the season. Darby O'Brien is buried in Springdale Cemetery.
| 2018 Tri-County male coach of the year Pat Garst Pat Garst (Dunlap High School): Qualified girls in 14 of 18 events at the state track and field meet and scored in each event, winning three relays and the 1600 meters. Dominating the class 2A girls meet, the Eagles became the first team in the three-class era to score 100 points at state. Dunlap’s 102 points were 51 points better than the state runner-up. Garst was named Illinois girls track and field coach of the year. |  |