#68 - Von Hayes

What a card: Von Hayes had just completed his second season with the Phillies when this card arrived in packs. Hayes was one of those phenoms that made up the beginnings of the rookie card craze during the early 1980s.

My observation on the front: It appears that Hayes is taking a warm-up swing outside the batter's box.

More opinion from me: I thought the Indians were kind of stupid for trading away Hayes to the Phillies after the 1982 season. But Hayes didn't turn out to be the star that a lot of people thought he would be. The Indians landed Julio Franco in the one-for-five deal. The other four guys didn't amount to much.

Something you might know: Hayes was the Phillies' de facto slugger after Mike Schmidt. In 1989, Schmidt's final season in which he had just 172 at-bats, Hayes hit a team-high 26 home runs for a horrid Phillies team that finished in last. Hayes also was the first player to hit two home runs in the first inning of a game. It was during a 26-7 pasting of the Mets on June 11, 1985. He hit a solo home run and then a grand slam.

Something you might not know: Hayes essentially blames former Reds pitcher Tom Browning for intentionally throwing at him and ending his career. Browning broke Hayes' arm with a pitch during the 1991 season. Hayes played just one more season.

My observation on the back: The answer to the trivia question surprised me. Reggie wasn't exactly known for his fielding skills.

The blog wants to speak now: No tab updating tonight. Got to get up early. You know how much night owls hate that.