Von Hayes

Von Francis Hayes
(Five-for-one)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 185 lb.
• School Saint Mary's College of California
• High School St. Mary's High School (Stockton)
• Debut April 14, 1981
• Final Game August 19, 1992
• Born August 31, 1958 in Stockton, CA USA

BR page

Biographical information

Lanky, phlegmatic Von Hayes came up with the Cleveland Indians in 1981, a sleeper as a seventh-round pick in the 1979 amateur draft but an OBP machine in minor league ball. In 1982, he hit .250 in 150 games with 14 homers and 82 RBIs at the age of 23. The Phillies liked Hayes enough to trade five players for him before the 1983 season (Manny Trillo, Julio Franco, George Vukovich, Jay Baller, and Jerry Willard). This exuberance unfortunately tagged Hayes with the nickname "Five-for-One," and he played undistinguished baseball for the 1983 National League-champion Phillies, hardly seeing any action in the postseason.

Hayes could do a bit of everything on the ball field; he had speed, power, could play at least five positions (all the outfield spots plus first and third base), walked, and hit for a high average. He was probably best suited to leading off, but the conventions of the game in the 1980s ran against guys who could hit 15-20 home runs as leadoff men. On June 11, 1985 [1], the Phillies experimented with Hayes in the leadoff spot; he hit two home runs in the 1st inning and Philadelphia scored 26 runs against the New York Mets. He led off the game with a home run, and on his second turn in the inning he hit a grand slam.

Hayes led the NL in runs scored in 1986, and was consistently among NL OBP leaders in the late 1980s. A broken wrist in 1991 cost Hayes his remaining power, and he played only one more season, for the California Angels in 1992, before his retirement.

Hayes, in his 12 seasons, managed to impress in just about every category. He stole 253 lifetime major league bases, with a high of 48 in 1984. He hit 143 home runs, with a high of 26 in 1989. He had 712 walks with a high of 121 in 1987. He led the league in runs scored and in doubles in 1986. He hit over .300 once, in 1986, when he was sixth in the league. He was an All Star in 1989. He never won a Gold Glove but had excellent range playing center field for the Phillies in 1985.

Hayes coached for the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2002, then managed them in 2003. He managed the Modesto A's in 2004 and was manager of the Midland Rockhounds of the Texas League in 2005 and 2006. He managed the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League in 2008.

His nephew, Brandon Hayes, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 49th round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Notable Achievements

• 1980 Player of the Year Midwest League Waterloo Indians
• NL All-Star (1989)
• NL Runs Scored Leader (1986)
• NL Doubles Leader (1986)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1987 & 1989)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1986)

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
2003	South Bend Silver Hawks	Midwest League	72-64	4th	Arizona Diamondbacks	Lost in 1st round
2004	Modesto A's	California League	90-50	1st	Oakland Athletics	League Champs
2005	Midland Rockhounds	Texas League	78-62	1st	Oakland Athletics	League Champs
2006	Midland Rockhounds	Texas League	78-61	1st	Oakland Athletics	Lost in 1st round
2008	Lancaster Barnstormers	Atlantic League	64-76	8th	Independent Leagues
2009	Lancaster Barnstormers	Atlantic League	39-46	--	Independent Leagues		replaced by Tom Herr on July 24
2010	Camden Riversharks	Atlantic League	62-77	7th	Independent Leagues
2011	Camden Riversharks	Atlantic League	57-67	6th	Independent Leagues
2013	Alexandria Aces	United League	24-20	--	Independent Leagues		Team disbanded
2015	Puebla Pericos	Mexican League			none		replaced by Matias Carrillo
2017	Puebla Pericos	Mexican League			none		replaced by Tim Johnson

Related Sites

• Von Hayes at the SABR Bio Project