Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 12/9/2008

12/9/1982:
The Phillies execute a five-for-one swap with the Cleveland Indians to acquire right fielder Von Hayes, creating enormous fan expectations that Hayes will never be able to live up to. The Phils part with Manny Trillo, Julio Franco, George Vukovich, Jerry Willard and Jay Baller to obtain Hayes, who hit only .250 with 14 homers in one full season with Cleveland. Over the next eight full years in Philly, those numbers will remain fairly constant - Hayes will hit 16 homers per season with a .276 batting average. Meanwhile, the five players the Phillies surrender, especially Franco, will all go on to varying levels of big-league service elsewhere.

Deacon Jones b. 1938
Dick Butkus b. 1942
Pit Martin b. 1943
World B. Free b. 1953
Otis Birdsong b. 1955

1984:
The Los Angeles Rams' running back Eric Dickerson became the NFL's single-season rushing leader during a 27-16 win over Houston.

"Dickerson slashed and squirmed for nine yards before Oilers linebacker Gregg Bingham finally brought him down on the Ram 45-yard line. That run gave him 215 yards for the day on 27 carries - and 2,007 for the season. The Rams mobbed Dickerson on the field." -William Nack, December 17, 1984

Packers Fact:
Wide receiver Desmond Howard was the most valuable player of the Packers' 35-21 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. He earned the award for his kickoff returns and punt returns.

PLAY TIME

Lovingly produced and absolutely magical, every page of this book shines with the happiness that we enjoy when we look at, play with, or even think about the best toys: teddy bears, Tonkas, Play-Doh, Mr. Potato Head, Etch-A-Sketch, G.I. Joe, Lionel Trains, Monopoly, Slinky, Silly Putty, Hula Hoop, Lite-Brite, Lego, Uno, Rubik’s Cube, Super Soaker, and more. Walsh takes his time and lavishes care, in full color, on each toy, giving four pages to its history and manufacture.

TIMELESS TOYS: CLASSIC TOYS AND THE PLAYMAKERS WHO CREATED THEM, by Tim Walsh (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005)