Von Hayes
Encyclopedia
Von Francis Hayes was a Major League Baseball
player from 1981 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians
, Philadelphia Phillies
, and California Angels
. Hayes was originally acquired by the Phillies in a "five-for-one" trade with the Indians in exchange for Manny Trillo
, George Vukovich
, Jay Baller
, Jerry Willard
, and Julio Franco
.
There were many rumors during the 1989 season that the New York Mets
were interested in acquiring Hayes in a trade for Lenny Dykstra
, but the Mets instead traded Dykstra for Juan Samuel
, a move that disappointed Mets fans as Samuel failed to continue his hitting form.
On June 11, 1985, Von Hayes became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs in the first inning of a baseball game. After leading off the game with a home run off Tom Gorman, Von Hayes hit a grand slam later that inning off Calvin Schiraldi
. The Phillies won the game 26-7 over the Mets: at that time the most single game runs scored by a Major League team in over 40 years.
Hayes also hit two two-run home runs in a June 8, 1989 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
at Veterans Stadium
. It was in this game that, after the Pirates scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, Pirate broadcaster Jim Rooker
said on the air, "If we lose this game, I'll walk home." Hayes' two home runs triggered a comeback, the Phillies winning the game 15-11. (After the season, Rooker conducted a charity walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.)
Playing against the Cincinnati Reds
on June 14, 1991, Hayes was hit by a pitch by Tom Browning
which broke his arm. Hayes returned to action on September 6, 1991 against Houston. Hayes was traded to the California Angels in the off-season but Hayes would later cite Browning's pitch as ending his career, "I broke my arm when I was hit by a pitch from Tom Browning... and I was finished. I tried to make a comeback (with California) in 1992, but it was no good."
An indie rock
band named themselves after Hayes. Hayes was the inspiration for one of ESPN
announcer Chris Berman's most famous "Bermanisms": Von "Purple" Hayes, a nod to the Jimi Hendrix
song
"Purple Haze
".
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
. Hayes debuted with the South Central Pennsylvania
-based franchise in the 2008 season. Hayes has also managed Minor League teams in South Bend
, Modesto
, and Midland
, and was California League
Manager of the Year in 2004 and Texas League
Manager of the Year in 2005.
On Oct. 26, 2009, the Camden Riversharks
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
announced they hired Hayes as their new manager.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player from 1981 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Hayes was originally acquired by the Phillies in a "five-for-one" trade with the Indians in exchange for Manny Trillo
Manny Trillo
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo , also nicknamed "Indio", is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from to...
, George Vukovich
George Vukovich
George Stephen Vukovich , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors from 1980-1985 for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians. He also played two seasons in Japan for the Seibu Lions in 1986-1987.-External links:...
, Jay Baller
Jay Baller
Jay Scot Baller is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals. Baller spent parts of six different seasons in the major leagues but never was able to stick with a big league time for an entire campaign...
, Jerry Willard
Jerry Willard
Gerald Duane Willard was a Major League Baseball catcher.Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1979, Willard would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on April 11, 1984, and appeared in his final game on May 19, 1994.Willard's career was spent...
, and Julio Franco
Julio Franco
Julio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....
.
Playing career
Hayes enjoyed his most successful campaigns as a Philadelphia Phillies in the late 80's. Hayes finished 8th in MVP voting in 1986, when he led the National League in runs, doubles and extra base hits. He achieved an on-base average over .400 in 1987. In 1989, Hayes made his only appearance on the All Star team, and had career high totals in OPS+ (140) and batting runs (32.4).There were many rumors during the 1989 season that the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
were interested in acquiring Hayes in a trade for Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra
Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra , nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s....
, but the Mets instead traded Dykstra for Juan Samuel
Juan Samuel
Juan Milton Samuel is a retired second baseman who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies , New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , Kansas City Royals , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays...
, a move that disappointed Mets fans as Samuel failed to continue his hitting form.
On June 11, 1985, Von Hayes became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs in the first inning of a baseball game. After leading off the game with a home run off Tom Gorman, Von Hayes hit a grand slam later that inning off Calvin Schiraldi
Calvin Schiraldi
Calvin Drew Schiraldi is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best remembered as the losing pitcher of Game 6 and Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.-Amateur career:...
. The Phillies won the game 26-7 over the Mets: at that time the most single game runs scored by a Major League team in over 40 years.
Hayes also hit two two-run home runs in a June 8, 1989 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
. It was in this game that, after the Pirates scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, Pirate broadcaster Jim Rooker
Jim Rooker
James Phillip Rooker is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster.A left-hander, Rooker pitched for the Detroit Tigers , Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates ....
said on the air, "If we lose this game, I'll walk home." Hayes' two home runs triggered a comeback, the Phillies winning the game 15-11. (After the season, Rooker conducted a charity walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.)
Playing against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on June 14, 1991, Hayes was hit by a pitch by Tom Browning
Tom Browning
Thomas Leo Browning is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals...
which broke his arm. Hayes returned to action on September 6, 1991 against Houston. Hayes was traded to the California Angels in the off-season but Hayes would later cite Browning's pitch as ending his career, "I broke my arm when I was hit by a pitch from Tom Browning... and I was finished. I tried to make a comeback (with California) in 1992, but it was no good."
An indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band named themselves after Hayes. Hayes was the inspiration for one of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
announcer Chris Berman's most famous "Bermanisms": Von "Purple" Hayes, a nod to the Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
song
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
"Purple Haze
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
".
Managerial career
In November 2007, Hayes was named manager of the Lancaster BarnstormersLancaster Barnstormers
The Lancaster Barnstormers is an American professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. Hayes debuted with the South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania is a region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes the fourteen counties of Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, and York....
-based franchise in the 2008 season. Hayes has also managed Minor League teams in South Bend
South Bend Silver Hawks
The South Bend Silver Hawks are a U.S. Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that plays in the Midwest League....
, Modesto
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
, and Midland
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
, and was California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Manager of the Year in 2004 and Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
Manager of the Year in 2005.
On Oct. 26, 2009, the Camden Riversharks
Camden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
announced they hired Hayes as their new manager.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions