In his first at-bat as a Cincinnati Red on Opening Day of 1969, Bobby Tolan smacked a home run into the Sun Deck of Crosley Field off Don Drysdale. It was the start of a stellar four-year run for Tolan, who was the heir apparent to the centerfield position vacated with the trade of Reds legend Vada Pinson.
After a severe injury caused Tolan to miss the entire 1971 season, he bounced back big in 1972, winning not only the Comeback Player of the Year but also the coveted Hutch Award (given to the player who “best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire” of Fred Hutchinson, by persevering through adversity).