Former Phillie of the Day - Ramon Aviles

When I started this blog, I wanted to make sure I featured players who weren't always in the spotlight–bench players, platoon guys, or guys who played so long ago you had almost forgotten about them. I also have a soft spot for guys who don't give up.

Former Phillie of the Day Ramon Aviles fits the profile. The infielder was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 1969 out of high school in Puerto Rico. Aviles toiled in the minors for 7 years before making it to the majors.

His first game was with the Red Sox against the Brewers on July 10, 1977. Aviles was called into to pinch hit for Bernie Carbo. He laid down a sacrifice bunt in his only at-bat. He stayed in the game to play second base and cleanly fielded one chance. He was scheduled to hit again in the top of the 9th, but was pinch hit for by Dwight Evans, who struck out. That was it for Aviles in the majors that season and he was sent back to Pawtucket.

Aviles returned to the show in 1979 after the Phillies purchased his contract from the Red Sox the year before. Aviles debuted for the Phils on May 4 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. In the top of the 7th, Del Unser pinch hit for second baseman Rudy Meoli. Aviles came out to play second in the bottom of the 7th.

In the top of the ninth with Greg Luzinski on third and Garry Maddox on second, Aviles stroked a single to left field off Dodgers knuckleballer Charlie Hough. Both Luzinski and Maddox scored and Aviles had his first major league hit and first 2 RBIs. He got his first start two days later and went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. He ended up starting in 16 games for the Phils and appearing in 27 before being sent back down to the minors. He hit .279 with a .371 OBP in 73 plate appearances and knocked in 12 runs.

He was back in Philadelphia in 1980 after starting the season in AAA Oklahoma City. His first start came on May 21 when he filled in for Larry Bowa at shortstop. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first against the Reds, Aviles drew a walk against Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, scoring the Phils' third run of the inning.

Aviles took Mario Soto deep in the bottom of the third inning for his first big league home run which gave the Phillies a 6-3 lead. The Phils went on to win 9-8 after scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth. Aviles was with the team for the rest of the season. He appeared as pinch runner in the NLCS against the Astros and was a member of the Phillies first World Series champion team that October.

He was back with the Phils in the strike-interrupted 1981 season, his last in the majors. For his career, he hit .268 in 117 games with 2 HRs and 24 RBIs and a .347 OBP.  He stayed in the Phillies organization, coaching and managing in the minors.