He saw his first action as a Phillie during a September call up during the 1980 World Series season. A blond haired skinny kid that used to run onto the field, normally to pinch-run for a slower footed teammate in the later innings of a close game, often sprinting from first to second base like a deer running from headlights. He didn’t get his first regular action until 1982 when he was called up from Double A Reading and played in 122 games. The following year cementing his place in the Big Leagues, helping the Phillies reach the World Series once more. His name was Bobby Dernier.

At age ten, all professional athletes seemed old to me, but there was something about Bobby Dernier that made me feel as if he was the older neighborhood kid, that would take time out to play catch with me. He seemed like a kid at heart, quick with a smile and always hustling around the field and the bases. Looking back over his stats, Bobby certainly was not a Phillies great, but he did break the team record for stolen bases by a rookie in 1982 with a Rollins-esque 42 stolen bases.

The first game I ever attended was a game against the Houston Astros. I don’t remember the exact date, but I believe it was early April or May of 1983. The air was cool but comfortable and I was in awe of The Vet and all the people at the game. For some reason I was always fascinated with the multi colored levels at The Vet and I was in a visual state of shock. I don’t think I spoke more then once or twice the entire game. In fact, I’m not sure how much I even paid attention, because my head was on a swivel just taking everything in. I’d been dying to go to an actual game my entire life and wasn’t sure if I’d ever have the chance to go back to another… so I tried to see as much as possible.

I attended the game with my Aunt, Uncle, and two cousins, and It wasn’t until some point in the middle innings, that my Uncle Chipper got my attention. Poking my shoulder, he pointed towards the field and said, “Watch this kid on first, it’s Bobby Dernier… He’s gonna steal second!” And not even a moment later, the dirt from the base paths sprayed out from underneath Dernier’s cleats and off he was. We were sitting on the 3rd base line, about 20 rows or so back. Couldn’t tell you if we were in the first or second level, but it was the only time I was ever at the Vet when I actually felt close to the action. With each stride the dust rose up behind Dernier and in as fluid a motion he quickly slid into second with a swirl of smoke enveloping both he and the shortstop covering the bag, but well ahead of the throw.

It was my first true baseball moment… a moment that truly ingrained the reality that the game was more then that. The game held beauty and it inspired me. That inspiration lasted until I took a bite of my Zagnut Bar and my cousin and me bet a Phillies Pennant that I could extend my entire arm outward without it breaking off in my mouth, (I lost, but I got pretty damn close).

Shortly before the 1984 season, Dernier was traded along with current Phillies Broadcaster Gary Mathews to the Cubs, for the great Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz. Dernier went onto to win the Gold Glove award and has become a small piece of Cubs lore by leading off the 1984 season when the Cubs won the NL East. He actually rejoined the Phils as a free agent in 1987 and had two decent years with some of the worst teams in Phillies history.

But he did have one last moment in the sun. On May 15th 1989, Dernier stepped to the plate with two men on and two outs in the 12th inning of a game in which they trailed 2-0 to the San Francisco Giants, after Steve Bedrosian gave up back to back homers in the top of the inning.

It was a full moon. Somehow the planets were in line because it was a bit of a miraculous ending. It took about 14 seconds for it to happen and in baseball terms, that’s an eternity. Dernier commented years later.

It was one of the very few bright spots for the 1989 Phils, (It should also be noted that Don Carmen actually shut the Giants out for 9 innings that evening…lol) and Dernier made the most of the moment.

Mike Schmidt used to call me a guess hitter and he was right. I guessed right and hooked it down in the corner, which was kind of a signature hit for me because pitchers would challenge me inside, Dernier added.

It was the last of 5 home runs during Dernier’s career, but it had a lasting effect on me and so many others who remember watching “The Deer” run the base paths.