Former Phillie of the Day - Ivan DeJesus

When the Phillies traded fan-favorite shortstop Larry Bowa to the Cubs for shortstop Ivan DeJesus on Jan. 27, 1982. I was angry. When I learned that top prospect Ryne Sandberg was also going to the Cubs, and all the Phils were getting back was DeJesus, I was livid.

I instantly hated DeJesus, even though I all I knew about him was that he was fairly pedestrian shortstop, while Sandberg would end up in the Hall of Fame. At the time, I didn't know Sandberg would end up in Cooperstown, but I knew he'd be something special.

I was still working as a vendor at Veterans Stadium when the 1982 season began, and it took all of my energy to keep from booing DeJesus every time he came to the plate. But I honestly think he knew of my anger toward him and the trade. It seemed every time he was hitting, he'd foul a ball off into the section where I was working. He came close to hitting me a couple of times. I knew he wasn't that good and didn't possess that bat control to hunt me down. I But still.

Anyway, Ivan the Terrible played 3 undistinguished seasons in Philadelphia, where he hit .249 with a .319 OBP and a .637 OPS. Yawn. In those same 3 seasons, Sandberg would win a Gold Glove, make 2 All-Star teams, and an MVP. Sandberg would finish his career as a 10-time All-Star with 9 Gold Gloves and a career .795 OPS.

Dear God, what a horrific trade. And it only happened because former Phils manager Dallas Green had joined the Cubs as general manager. The Phils were anxious to get rid of Bowa, who was locked in a contentious contract dispute with the Phillies. Bowa, at 36 years old, wanted a 3-year contract extension. The Phillies didn't want to give it to him. So Green swapped shortstops with the Phils and got Sandberg as a throw-in. The Phillies wanted Luis Aguayo to be included in the trade instead of Sandberg, but Green insisted on Sandberg. He played one season at third before moving to second. And you know the rest.

Why the Phillies didn't give Sandberg a legitimate shot at shortstop is beyond me. But Ivan DeJesus for Larry Bowa AND Ryne Sandberg is one of the worst trades of all time in baseball. It still pisses me off. I'm sure DeJesus is a perfectly nice man who managed to play for 15 years in the majors. His biggest crime was being traded for Sandberg, something he had absolutely no control over. But still.