Keith Hernandez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Upon joining the New York Mets on June 15, 1983, in exchange for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey, Hernandez wanted to wear his familiar number 37 but found it already taken by pitcher John Pacella. He instead switched to number 17. This trade moved him from a World Series champion team to one that had narrowly avoided 100 losses the previous year, yet he immediately helped fuel a rivalry with his former Cardinals. Under manager Davey Johnson, Hernandez became the leader of a young core featuring Rookies of the Year Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, helping the Mets finish 90–72 in 1984. His defensive mastery was so profound that umpires began strictly enforcing the rule requiring fielders (except catchers) to be in fair territory during pitches because Hernandez would take pickoff throws with his right foot on the bag and his left in foul territory to tag runners more effectively.

In Their Own Story

Hernandez's reputation as a defensive terror was legendary, particularly regarding bunt defense. He charged so aggressively that opponents were often discouraged from attempting bunts based on his name alone; Pete Rose compared facing him to "driving the lane against Bill Russell." Astros manager Hal Lanier stated that the combination of Hernandez at first and pitchers like Ron Darling made bunting "near impossible," while Cubs manager Jim Frey noted he wouldn't ask most pitchers to try it. Beyond fielding, Hernandez's personal life faced scrutiny during the 1985 Pittsburgh trial of drug dealer Curtis Strong, which revealed his previous cocaine use. MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth suspended seven players, including Hernandez, though the suspensions were commuted after they donated 10% of their salaries to drug-abuse programs and completed community service. Despite this friction with former manager Whitey Herzog, who called him a "cancer," Hernandez helped the Mets win the World Series in 1986.

Reader's Guide

For fans of Keith Hernandez, his legacy is defined by his unprecedented defensive dominance and his transition to broadcasting. Since the launch of SNY in 2006, he has served as a color commentator alongside former teammate Ron Darling and play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen, bringing his deep knowledge to Mets television broadcasts. He also serves as a studio analyst for MLB on Fox since 2017. His career statistics reflect a contact hitter with a .296 average and a walk rate of 12.5%, contributing to a productivity level 31% above the league average. While he is often assumed to be of Mexican descent due to his surname, Hernandez clarified during broadcasts that his father's ancestry is Castilian Spanish and his mother is Scots-Irish. His journey from a star at Capuchino High School to the last player signed in the 1971 draft to play in the majors remains a testament to his resilience.

Did You Know?

• Hernandez was not the last player selected and signed in the 1971 MLB draft to reach the majors; later-round picks like Mike Paul (60th round) also made it to the big leagues.
• He shared the 1979 National League MVP award with Willie Stargell, the first time two players received the exact same number of points from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
• Hernandez is widely considered the best defensive first baseman of all time, holding the record with 11 consecutive Gold Glove awards.
• Hernandez attended Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California, graduating in 1971.
• Hernandez's uniform number with the Mets was 17 because his preferred number 37 was already taken by teammate John Pacella at the time of the trade.