From Deadbeat Free Agent to Deadbeat Dad: The Legend of Danny Tartabull

Those Philly fans who are seasoned enough to recollect the “playing days” of former MLB outfielder Danny Tartabull in Philadelphia probably wish he would have never been spoken of again in this town (or anywhere else baseball is played). The one-time All Star and Rookie of the Year who amassed nearly 1,000 RBI in his career (and not a single RBI with Philadelphia) and ended his time in Phillies pinstripes and the game itself when he announced his early retirement after the 1997 season—a season that saw him play in just three games due to a broken toe suffered on his own batted foul ball at age 34—apparently has also tried to end his “career” as a dad early as well. The now 50-year-old Tartabull has been named the Most Wanted Deadbeat Dad in the city of Los Angeles for his failure to play more than $275,000 in child support for his two sons (meaning he has as many children as he had runs scored for the Phillies after signing a $2.3 million contract prior to the 1997 campaign.

Former Phillie Danny Tartabull is one of LA’s “Most Wanted” … and not as a ballplayer.

According to the Los Angeles County Child Support Services, Tartabull pleaded no-contest to a charge of failing to pay owed child support in January 2011, and has since not met the terms of his probation. He’s reportedly had a warrant out for his arrest out for more than a year, a warrant that was issued when he didn’t appear for the start of a 180-day jail sentence. It’s hard to imagine how he could not be able to “afford” the payments after earning more than a reported $30 million over the course of his 16-year career. His youngest son is due to graduate high school next year, so maybe Tartabull has decided he’s raised and doesn’t require financial assistance? It would appear to be an outright refusal to pay and a risky game of cat and mouse with the authorities, who aren’t giving him any “celebrity” benefits of the doubt. Tartabull’s name and photo was recently added to the poster that LA County officials release to raise awareness for those who owe past support. According to the county, the one-time New York Yankee and Kansas City slugger has a child support tab that totals almost as much as the other four men featured on the current poster. He reportedly faces additional jail time upon his apprehension and arrest.

Maybe the Phillies got off easy with him after all …