gold star for USAHOF

17. Keith Hernandez

17. Keith Hernandez
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: October 20, 1953 in San Francisco, CA USA
  • Weight: 180 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: August 30, 1974
  • Final Game: July 24, 1990
  • Gold Glove - 1978
  • Gold Glove - 1979
  • Most Valuable Player - 1979
  • TSN All-Star - 1979
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1979
  • Gold Glove - 1980
  • Silver Slugger - 1980
  • TSN All-Star - 1980
  • Gold Glove - 1981
  • Gold Glove - 1982
  • Gold Glove - 1983
  • Gold Glove - 1984
  • Silver Slugger - 1984
  • TSN All-Star - 1984
  • Gold Glove - 1985
  • TSN All-Star - 1985
  • Gold Glove - 1986
  • TSN All-Star - 1986
  • Gold Glove - 1987
  • Gold Glove - 1988
  • MVP - 1979
  • MVP - 1980
  • MVP - 1981
  • MVP - 1982
  • MVP - 1983
  • MVP - 1984
  • MVP - 1985
  • MVP - 1986
 
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Keith Hernandez is probably more known for his time with the New York Mets but he actually had better stats with the St. Louis Cardinals and it was in the Gateway to the West where he had his best season in Baseball.

Hernandez was a very late round draft pick (42nd Round) and he certainly exceeded expectations with both his bat and glove.  Hernandez would have an MVP season in 1979 where he was the National League Leader in Runs Scored (116), Doubles (48) and Batting Average (.344) while also having a 105 RHI season.  He would bat over .300 the next two seasons and was also the leader I On Base Percentage in 1980. 

Where Keith Hernandez also stood out was his defensive ability.  Normally a First Baseman wasn’t thought of as having any glove skill but Hernandez looked to revolutionize the position playing it more aggressively and he was rewarded with multiple Gold Gloves and he was a perennial leader in Total Zone Runs for First Basemen.

While he was certainly a star for the Redbirds, he ran afoul of Manager Whitey Herzog who felt he was a detriment to the team and he was traded to the New York Mets at the prime of his career.  In 2021, Hernandez was finally inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: First Base
  • Acquired: Selected in the 42nd Round 6/8/1971.
  • Departed: Traded to the New York Mets for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey 6/15/83.
  • Games Played: 1165
  • Notable Statistics: 662 Runs Scored
    1,217 Hits
    265 Doubles
    50 Triples
    81 Home Runs
    595 Runs Batted In
    81 Stolen Bases
    .299/.385/.448 Slash Line
    34.4 bWAR

    10 Playoff Games
    7 Runs Scored
    11 Hits
    2 Doubles
    0 Triples
    1 Home Run
    9 Runs Batted In
    0 Stolen Bases
    .282/.378/.410 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1982)
    MVP (1979)
    All-Star (1979 & 1980)
    Silver Slugger (1980)
    Gold Glove (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 & 1983*)
    Highest Batting Average (1979)
    Most Runs Scored (1979 & 1980)
    Most Doubles (1979)
    Most Intentional Walks (1982)
    Most Putouts (1979, 1981, 1982 & 1983*)
    Most Putouts by a First Baseman (1979, 1981, 1982 & 1983*)
    Most Assists by a First Baseman (1976 & 1979)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a First Baseman (1977, 1979, 1980, 1981 & 1983)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a First Baseman (1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 & 1983*)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a First Baseman (1979, 1981, 1982 & 1983)

    * Hernandez was traded midway through the season to the New York Mets.

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