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Keith Hernandez

Keith Hernandez
Inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, 1997
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 1 of 1218 players
Hernandez
Keith Hernandez
Born: October 20, 1953 at San Francisco, Cal.
Throws: Left Bats: Left
Height: 6.00 Weight: 195

Keith Hernandez has been the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup 355 times, most recently on January 15, 2024.

1b
Non-playing roles with Mets
  • Broadcaster: Television 2002 - 2022

First Mets game: June 17, 1983
Last Mets game: September 27, 1989

Share your memories of Keith Hernandez

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Greg
Keith Hernandez is arguably the greatest all-around player the Mets ever had. He was a .300 hitter that could be counted on, especially in clutch situations. When he walked up to the plate, there was a great feeling of assurance that something good was about to happen. He could hit with authority to all fields; a true and pure hitter.

Keith's fielding was nothing short of exemplary. He was so brilliant a fielder that he could actually play his position as a first baseman, and at the same time partly cover the second base position as well. Very few balls ever passed him. He stole numerous base hits. His advisory role to pitchers, as well as to other teammates, was invaluable.

Keith was a team captain in the truest sense, an outstanding leader. He is probably the main reason why the Mets won the World Series in 1986. Without him, the Mets would not have even been close. When the Mets acquired him in 1983, that trade was, in my opinion, the best trade the Mets had ever made. There is no question that he should be voted into the Hall of Fame. The only question is, what's taking so long?

Paul
I've often wondered why Keith got screwed on Hall-of- Fame voting. A .300 hitter, great clutch player, big RBI man, MVP and the best fielder of his era. He should have gotten more consideration than he did.

Mike Welch
My memories of Keith Hernandez were mostly from the end of his career. I remember the excellent defense that took the bunt away from opposing teams, and his ability to carry the team on his back during his torrid hitting streaks. I also remember the injury that effectively ended Keith's career midway through the 1988 season. Rounding second on what should have been a triple against the Cardinals, Keith tore a muscle in his leg. I remember him on the ground between second and third when Ozzie Smith casually tagged him out. The injury, the result of his non- existent pre-game stretching routine, was the beginning of the end for Keith.

robert lanzarotta
I remember walking down 2nd Ave after visiting my uncle in the hospital, feeling very sad and seeing Keith carrying two bags of groceries. I said "Hey Keith!" He not only turned around to say hello but he looked liked he had seen an old friend. I'll never forget what a nice feeling that was after a horrible day. Thanks Keith!

Brendan
Hernandez was a great Met. I wouldn't go as far to say that he should be in the Hall of Fame but he is close. He is in that grouping of second-tier players that are one notch below the Hall. However, his number should certainly be retired by the Mets. He is one of, if not the greatest offensive players in their history. He deserves to be honored for his contributions to those great Mets teams of the late '80's.

Mr. Sparkle
December 13, 2000
Mex was the Met's in the 80's. Gooden was great, Strawberry and Carter were awesome but Keith was the leader of the team and really had the best attitude I've ever seen. I loved his book "If at First." Keith's remedy for getting out of a slump was going out and getting a good drunk on. I saw him and Wally once get caught on TV smoking cigarettes in the dug out and trying to hide it from the camera. What a pisser. He was Mr. Clutch.

Danny Erickson
December 17, 2000
Keith Hernandez was the best fielding first baseman of all time. He always knew what the situation was and how to do his job in the most efficient manner. Keith displayed fine hitting skills throughout his career and proved to be a true professional.

Won Doney
January 2, 2001
Is there any reason why Keith Hernandez isn't in the Hall of Fame? I saw his name on the ballot either last year or in '99 along with Gary Carter's name. Carter received more votes. Carter was great, but Hernandez deserves to be in there more. Who else has won 11 Gold Gloves at 1st base? No one!

goreking
January 16, 2001
Had his best years chasing the dragon! Yankee fans are crazy to think that Mattingly was his equal with the glove. Even when he was all broken up and ran like he was carrying a full bladder, the boy could fly around the base. Keith always knew how to cover the white lines!

Coach HoJo20
May 12, 2001
Whoa ... calm down ETCH, Mex & Seaver are both solid announcers. Granted they are no Ralph Kiner and Gary Thorne but Mex and Seaver get the job done!!

Mr. Sparkle
May 30, 2001
Come on it was great to hear Mex and Seaver in the booth together. The two best players ever to wear a Mets uniform doing a Mets game together was pretty cool.

Mr. Sparkle
June 6, 2001
Come on before Piazza, who was really better than Hernandez as an all around position player? There may have been a few guys who had better stats in particular catagories but who was a better team leader than Mex?? No one. He was super clutch, the best defensive 1st baseman they ever had and could hit .300 and knock in 100 runs plus knew how to work out a walk 100 times a year. Average power and no speed but no one ever could be the team leader he was. I'd start an all time team with him, Piazza and Seaver.

Coach HoJo 20
June 16, 2001
ETCH, I can see you saying that Mex isn't good in the booth, its a matter of taste, But for you to say he isn't one of the best to wear the Orange and Blue is pure lunacy!!!

Mex is also a damn good actor, Just ask Jerry Seinfeld

Michael knight
September 2, 2001
No doubt about it Keith was the best fielding first baseman the majors have ever seen. I'm an avid avid Met fan and Keith is my idol. The smartest player the Mets ever had, his head was always in the game and always a few steps ahead of the batter. You could feel him thinking out at first. I had the honor of meeting Keith on 11/16/96 and gave him about 7 books on the Civil War. Now that I met him I can die happy!

No one did it better. I could not agree more with the rest of you. His number 17 should have been retired on Sun. September 14, 1997, the day he was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. And an even bigger sham came about 21 months before when he only received a handful of votes for the Hall of Fame. What a joke!

By the way my license plate reads KH 17 with the Mets logo in honor of Mex.

KEVIN BRAMLEY
October 24, 2001
Keith hernandez is without a doubt the best hitter the Mets have ever had.he Is also the best defensive 1st basemen ever in baseball.i Used to love to watch him field a bunt.he Almost got to the plate before the pitch did.nobody Was better going to his left or right to field a ground ball then keith.i Feel he made davey johnsons job much eaiser because as all you fellow Mets fans know he was like having a second manager only on the field not in the dugout.i Think the Mets won so much in the 80s because of his leadership.he Led not only with his words but by example.his Intensity playing the game was matched by nobody.for These and many other reasons I think he was the best position player the Mets ever had and possibly ever will have.i Think bobby valentine would be wise to make him the Mets batting instructor. If he ever did that

Jim Snedeker
January 25, 2002
The true consummate baseball professional, in my book.

Even though he did cocaine like an idiot, and smoked cigarettes like a dope, he's still one of the best players I've ever seen. Doing everything right--and in many cases, spectacularly--plus, who else would you want up in a clutch situation? (Hey, and don't forget how he helped set up the win in Game 6 of the 86 WS by making the second out in the 10th--thus easing down the BoSox' guard!)

Plus, he seems like a genuinely nice guy, someone you'd like to sit down and have a beer with. New York adored him. In an interview, he said that he was "scared to death" of New York City when he was traded. But then he noticed things like how cabbies refused to accept his money for rides. And after he was traded, one of the tabloids published a weekly "Tracking Keith and the Kid" column, where both Mex and Carter's baseball exploits with their post-Mets teams were summarized.

He should be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame one of these days.

Joe
February 22, 2002
My all-time favorite player, I played baseball my whole life trying to play like Keith. It's horrible that he probably won't make the hall, just because he wasn't a "power hitting" first baseman per say. The Mets should atleast retire #17.

Gary from Chesapeake
April 5, 2002
Add me to the list who claim Mex as their all-time favorite Met. He had a commanding presence on the field, going to the mound to discuss defensive strategy with the pitcher, catcher, and the infield. I hated him as a Cardinal because he did so much damage to the Mets. To get him on our side was unbelievable! Yes, sir! He belongs in Cooperstown and "17" oughta be retired by the Metsies.

Perndude
April 15, 2002
Was at the Met game yesterday. It kills me to see the 12th man on the pitching staff wearing the number of one of the three most important Mets of all time (Seaver and Piazza are the other two). Did Keith do something to tick the equipment manager off? He keeps giving his number out to scrubs. I can see if a star like Alomar comes in and asks for it, but Lopez and Komiyama? This number belongs on the wall in left. Ironically he wore 37 for St. Louis and couldn't have it when he came here because of Stengel and his number should have never been retired.

Shari
May 28, 2002
Hands down Keith was my all-time favorite Met. He was the best 1st baseman in the club's history in my opinion. John Olerud was a close second, but Keith while being a fine hitter and an amazing 1st baseman was a real leader. I think it's disgusting that the Mets don't retire his #17, instead they give it to every piece of crap utility player that comes along.

Mr. Sparkle
July 1, 2002
The more I listen to Keith on TV the more I love his style. He's very honest and talks like he's in the room with you watching the game rather than some slick commentator. His candor also makes me laugh at time. I think he does a great job although I hate when he uses the word "fanny." Overall, he keeps getting better and better.

Shari
July 19, 2002
I don't care what anyone says-Keith is and always will be one of my favorite Mets. It's true that Ed Kranepool was a native New Yorker and played his entire career here, but he was also surly at times and not very nice to the fans from what I heard. Not a characteristic that endears a player to fans no matter how long he's played with a team. Keith is charming, and upbeat and was a real leader the six seasons he played here. He absolutely deserved to be the Captain, besides most teams in baseball don't NEED captains it's an honorary thing. Did they ask Kranepool to gueststar on Seinfeld? Of course not- he had the personality of a doorknob.

Larry Burns
September 9, 2002
All time favorite Met. He was an intense leader and his aquisition put them over the top for the mid- 1980s. A smooth first basemen and an awesome gap hitter. His lack of true power numbers will preclude him from the Hall of Fame. Loved his approach to baseball and his no holds barred honesty. I see where present Mets (Unfortunately including Piazza) have taken issue with his column accusing the 2002 team of quitting. What's the big deal? If you watched them for 3 minutes you see they quit. I guess they can quit, but don't call them on it. Keith is the voice of truth in the wilderness.

Shari
September 10, 2002
These over paid whiny under-achievers should just shut up and listen to Keith, and what do they do after his comments? You guessed it-they whine some more about his outspoken and dead-on the money criticism. I just wish he had said these things in a public forum sooner. I say kudos to you Keith-you were always my favorite Met, and you were a true team-guy, not like the losers on this sorry ass excuse for a baseball team. Hey you know what guys? You don't like what he said? Feel it's untrue? then prove him wrong instead of crying about what he said.

Shar
September 10, 2002
Keith-You should have stuck to your guns and not apologized at all to these whiny cry babies! I've just lost a little respect for you-but you're still my favorite. I guess to give the benefit of the doubt MSG probably threatened to give you the boot if you didn't take back what you said.

Karl de Vries
September 10, 2002
Sorry to hear about what Keith said. I defend him saying it all the way, because lets face it, the Mets are quitters. It shames me to say that, because this was the comeback team of baseball 1997-2000 and provided me with so, so many great late-inning moments. But I'm sorry that Keith publicly said it, because God knows that Fred Wilpon, Mr. Image himself, will can him like corn. I'm glad, though, that someone had the guts to finally stand up and say that, because it had to be said.

Joe FIgliola
September 16, 2002
He is one of the greatest and classiet men to ever wear a Mets uniform.

He is the greatest first baseman in Mets history.

He has won two World Series rings.

He is one of the greatest defensive first basemen in history.

HE IS MORE THAN QUALIFIED AND HAS EVERY RIGHT TO CALL THE 2002 METS A BUNCH OF QUITTERS. SO DOES CARTER; SO DOES MOOKIE; SO DOES SEAVER, CLEON JONES AND OTHERS WHO WORE THE BLUE AND ORANGE WITH PRIDE

If Keith Hernandez is a "voice from the grave," then Mike Piazza, Mo Vaughn, Alomar, Burnitz, and a majority of the 2002 Mets easily qualify as dead men walking.

Gilinfiji
October 1, 2002
Please hire him as our manager. His fire, desire, intensity, distinguished career and status as the Mets best everyday player EVER speaks for itself. His comments about the team being quitters was dead on. Please put him in the dugout and the stoners and loafers will feel his wrath.

Banger7
October 25, 2002
Easily the best defensive first baseman I have ever seen play. I was an 8-year still reeling from Reggie Jackson (who in my child's eyes WAS baseball) leaving the Yankees for the Angels a couple years earlier when the Mets got Keith from the hated Cardinals. Not only was this trade the first major piece of the puzzle leading to the 1986 World Series, it was what made me start watching the Mets, and made me the Mets fan I remain today.

Banger7
October 25, 2002
I have discussed Hernandez the player, now for Hernandez the announcer.

Keith Hernandez is the most critical announcer I have ever heard. I remember one game where he criticized Robin Ventura for not taking an extra base, even after Ventura then scored on the ensuing hit!

Still, despite his anal retentiveness, he does know his baseball.

Shari
December 13, 2002
Maybe Keith didn't have a terrific game six, but you are forgetting what he did to GET them to the series in the first place. So what if he smoked cigarettes & had a few beers, it should be the worst thing a baseball player ever does, no one on the '86 team would exactly qualify as choir boys off the field. During the seasons he played for the Mets he was a leader, a gold glover at first base and a consistant .300 hitter. Yes he did play for the Cardinals originally, but most of the veterans from that team came form somewhere else, Carter came from the Expos, Ray Knight came from the Reds, HoJO although not really a vet then came from Detroit, most of the home grown talent like Backman, Dykstra, Strawberry & Gooden were too young to be appointed as captain, and according to some their behavior off the field would have stripped them of their captaincy anyway, Keith was obviously the best choice for captain. I know what you will say what abut Carter? Good question-Ibelieve Keith was a Met longer & I believe a bit younger. I hope this answers your silly question.

Judah
December 20, 2002
How could you say Keith shouldn't have been Captain? He was the prototypical captain; always into the game, always pushing his teammates to play harder and always managing the infield like it was his living room. He was always on top of things on the field and was one of the most clutch performers on those awesome 80's teams. And what kind of memorable 1st baseman have the Mets had since Keith? They never should have let him go. He was truly a captain and he deserved the recognition.

Karl de Vries
January 3, 2003
Okay, perhaps he's not good enough to have his number retired...he didn't have enough years. However, there should be some kind of halfway point between having one's number retired and letting scrubs like Luis Lopez, Jeff McKnight and Saturo Komiyama (grimace) soil its legacy. How about we simply secure the number, or bestow it upon a player worthy enough of the title?

I officially request at this time that the Hernandez dumpers STOP IT NOW. The 86 Mets were a team of men, not bloodless, lifeless baseball zombies (read: Yankees). They were scrappers, drinkers, and yes, occasional cokeheads who didn't take *#$& from anyone. Now, if you think that Gary Carter, a God-Squader, was the real leader of those guys, then you are simply not in touch with reality. Hernandez, according to virtually all the Mets (including the religious Mookie, by the way) was the key to that team. If you don't like him, then don't partake in our 86 memories.

By the way, does anyone know if Hernandez will be back in the booth next year? It's a long shot, considering he voiced the truth when it wasn't pleasant. I'm just waiting for his fate to be sealed much in the vein of Tim McCarver.

Perndude
February 22, 2003
Retiring Carter's number (as they are planning to do this year) before Keith's is a crime. Carter may have better overall stats and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but Keith was the leader of that team and without him, they win nothing. Hernandez is the most important Met of all time. Retire his freaking number already (at least stop having scrubs wear it).

Melissa
April 23, 2003
I don't know if Keith actually reads this, but if you do, Keith, I wanted to say hi. I've been hearing stories of you from the time I was little... about how you taught my mom to drive around the streets of Millbrae... Leslie is my mom, Nanette is my aunt, Chris is my uncle. If it ever crossed your mind to get back in touch with old (OLD!) friends, write me back... I know how to get a hold of all of 'em!

Bazz McClain
November 15, 2003
One thing first Met fans. Keith doesn't like the nickname "Mex", so can it! Keith is the best defensive and offensive firstbaseman the Mets have ever had. John Olerud came close offensively, but was not the same kind of clutch hitter. Keith changed all Met fans, in their expectations of a firstbaseman. We all find ourselves looking for that left handed great fielding line drive hitting number three hitter. Since Keith's departure we grew to love John Olerud, but have been disappointed since. Jason Phillips gives us hope at the position. But, until someone comes along that plays firstbase at that level of intensity. Keith will be the measuring stick for all Mets firstbaseman to come.

George
January 13, 2004
Keith set a record in 1985 for driving in 24 Game-Winning-RBI's. I always thought that was a quirky stat (given to the guy who knocks in the deciding run) but have not seen it for many years.

Mets2Moon
March 28, 2004
Anyone who ever wondered why Keith Hernandez is as adored or appreicated for all he did for the Mets organization has obviously never read the book "If At First." Keith wrote the book initially as a game-by- game account of the 1985 season, then added a foreword and extra chapter following the Championship in 1986.

Anyone who doesn't know the incredible amount of inner strength it takes to simply get through a season of Major League Baseball never read this book.

Simply, it would have been enough to just shut out the impending Pittsburgh drug trials, and the ongoing and increasingly bitter divorce hearings, and the meeting with Lawyers and whatnot that Keith had to endure in 1985.

It would have probably thrown a lesser ballplayer's season in the tank.

Not Keith Hernandez.

All Keith did for the 1985 season was hit his usual .310, his usual 10 HRs, RBIs a little down, and yes, his first major midseason slump. Can anyone blame him for pressing?

He even set the single-season GWRBI record, a feat that he himself states is worthless to him.

He returned from testifying in Pittsburgh to the 5th inning of a Gooden/Valenzuela matchup in LA in September, and immediately went in and turned a key DP.

He had something like a 8 for 8 streak down the stretch when the fans in St. Louis were ready to eat him alive, so much so that he was unable to stay at the team hotel.

Yeah, not deserving of the accolades...

The Best. Keith Hernandez.

Kiwiwriter
July 23, 2004
The pure warrior. He was for the Mets what Thurman Munson was for the Yankees, but a lot more affable with the media.

I remember when he came to New York. I was covering the Mets. He looked lost. He was stunned and devastated. I later read that he called his agent to see if he could retire. He just wanted to get the hell out of that 1983 ballclub.

Two things happened: Rusty Staub took him on the town and showed him the museums, clubs, and restaurants. The other was that Keith saw the pitching the Mets had in their farm system.

He turned that club around. He imposed his hell-for- leather, aggressive, heads-up intensity on the entire team. You didn't mess with Mex, and if you did, you paid for it. Even if you were the Straw man. I saw him scream at Jesse Orosco to keep him on target and at Oil Can Boyd to get him off target.

Watching him hit and play first base was like attending a class on "How to play first base...properly."

They gotta retire 17 for him.

Jonathan Stern
February 18, 2005
Keith WAS the 1980's Mets - for reasons good and bad. He was like a second manager on the field, and no one played 1B better. He was as intelligent and hard-nosed as he was hard-living. And he underachieved. Just as the Mets were no dynasty, Mex was no Hall-of-Famer and probably does not deserve to have his number retired at Shea. Cocaine, batting numbers not good enough, slacked off in Cleveland, didn't take care of himself, etc. And, truth be told, he was past his prime when he got here.

Even as a broadcaster, Keith is great with some caveats. He is as knowledgable, informative, and as provocative as McCarver was, which, of course, could come back to bite him. Pedestrian at first, he has come a long, long way. But the Piazza "voice from the dead" controversy needs to be examined more carefully. Yes, Keith was right - the 2002 Mets quit. But, as someone who duked it out with the media time and time again as a player (read Klapisch and Harper's "The Worst Team Money Can Buy"), he should have remembered that the media is the toughest enemy that players have to fight. Keith learned a lesson: a media guy is a media guy regardless of whether he once played in the pros. He should have either stuck to his guns or not written the column in the first place. Instead he wimped out and apologized. Much though I want to defend him, I have no doubt that there were a number reporters snickering behind Keith's back the whole time.

Player or Broadcaster, admiring Keith is not as easy as you would want it to be.

Josh
July 8, 2005
True, Hernandez's lifetime stats are a notch below the "hitting" hall of fame's standards. Perhaps if we ever get a baseball hall of fame that takes into account that a player plays half the game on defense, Keith will be elected. He is without argument the greatest first baseman ever. Oh, hof voters, here is a stat for ya, Who will forever be the all time game winning RBI leader? Keith Hernandez

ernie
January 26, 2006
Hernandez is arguably the best fielding first baseman in history. Remember the unusual way Keith used to hold runners on? One foot in foul territory. I'm surprised that method of holding runners on never caught on in the majors.

Mr. Sparkle
February 12, 2006
Keith did have a great style at first but was forced to change after an opposing manager, probably Whitey Herzog, complained that he was not allowed to play in foul territory. That's why it never caught on.

Tony56
February 17, 2006
Keith used to hold runners on with one foot in foul territory. It was ex-Cardinal outfielder/third baseman Mike Shannon, who at the time was a Cardinal broadcaster, who first queried whether or not that the rules required that a player's entire body be in fair territory. The Cardinals complained and the League and the ump bought it.

billsue
March 19, 2006
I look back at the '86 Mets and I am reminded of the only time in my life that a team I ever rooted for from the beginning of the season actually won the championship by the end. Have you ever seen a more exciting Series? Talk about nail-biting. Thank goodness it ended right! Love those guys!

Keith deserves to be in the Hall of Fame without question. My understanding is that his cocaine use is what has kept him out. Ridiculous! I've never used cocaine, but I doubt it's as "performance enhancing" as steroids. Jitters and paranoia probably don't make a 0.300 hitter.

What does this mean for Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmiero, etc.? Do they deserve to be in the Hall with their steroid statistics? I don't think so. It will be interesting to see how fairly the principle is applied.

Don Sundstrom
April 5, 2006
A lot of people say Gary Carter was the final link that the Mets needed to get to the WS. That may be, but without that trade for Keith in '83 the Mets would have never gotten there. He was the general on the field, the take charge guy. Although he may have been dubbed "The Prince of Darkness" by mouthy Lippy Lupica he shed the light upon the Mets and their fans.

Josh
April 28, 2006
Today they juice up to pad their power stats. All Keith ever did was smoke, drink, and get high. All while establishing himself as the greatest defensive first baseman the game has seen. It's called natural talent folks. A baseball starter hits for 1/18th of a game and plays defense for 1/2. Next lifetime Keith you should smile and do backflips, it worked for Ozzie.

Mr. Sparkle
October 4, 2006
I love him as an analyst. He's the best. Ron Darling is good but when Keith is not there it's just not the same.

Keith is definitely an all time great top 5 Mets players. To think he hated NY, got traded here, hated it, had an open mind enough to listen to the Mets about turning it around and decided to stay and turned out loving it. He could have been the typical player who couldn't play in NY but he turned out to thrive here. AWESOME! I was just reading in Inside pitch how he used to say to Mike Phillips after Mike got traded to the Cardinals, "How can you play in NY?" He hated it. Mike was one guy who helped change Keith's mind. Gotta love him for that.

Chris
November 3, 2006
Keith Hernandez: One of the most understated and self composed ball players to wear a Met uniform. As a leader he was the glue that brought the 86 Mets all the way. As a person, he made mistakes just like anyone of us.... only we don't have the press announcing what we did last night! I doubt any fan can argue Keith was the one single Met that had sheer magic swarming around them in clutch situations. Certain players have such a profound effect on a whole team... Keith was that player to the Mets, he brought the best out of mediocre players, and quietly was one of the best in baseball. For those of us who know... we know better... awards don't always say it all or show the real picture... Keith Hernandez was and will always be class act.

Catfish Tortuga
February 1, 2008
My favorite baseball player of all time. I grew up loving the stinking Mets of the late 70's, and started to feel the winds change direction in late 1983. Keith was the catalyst for the turnaround, I'm sure.

This is a player who knew the habits of every player in the league!! If the player was a pitcher, Keith knew what he liked to throw and when he threw it in the count. As far as hitters, he knew their habits, too, and could advise his own pitchers on how to pitch them. I can't think of anyone else so IN TUNE with the game going on around them.

Clutch situations? Forget about it - there was no one else you wanted at the plate in those golden years. Clutch situations at Shea with Keith at the plate? Goose-bump material when Keith would smack a line drive to left-center and score two runners, then pump his fist standing on second base, with the crowd going nuts. Magic times.

Haven't seen a team leader like Keith Hernandez since - aware, passionate, skilled, a motivator. Didn't always run out ground balls, but in this age of overpaid, overmuscled, aloof uber-athletes I miss the all-human Keith Hernandez on the field at Shea.

Feat Fan
February 3, 2008
Gotta love his brute honesty, he is GENUINE and FEARLESS. He says what others think but don't have the pits to.

Jim
April 3, 2008
When the Mets acquired him at the June trading deadline of 1983, they officially showed that they were serious about winning. He brought a winning attitude to the team. They were also able to get Dave Kingman out of the lineup and thankfully off the field. There was never a better fielding first baseman in the history of the franchise. His knowledge of the game is evident during his broadcasts of Mets games.

Anthony
April 14, 2008
He is an amazing announcer; he is brutally honest and does not hide his distaste for today's prima donnas. The Mets have waited too long to retire his number and in fact have insulted Mets fans by letting little known players such as David Newhan and Dae-Sung Koo wear the # 17. During his heyday he was the heart and soul of the team; his trade here brought automatic respect to the team. The only other player to do so was Piazza.

Inz 41
April 14, 2008
Keith Hernandez belongs in the Hall of Fame and he deserves to have his number 17 retired by the Mets. What are they waiting for? Hernandez is quite simply the best everyday player the Mets have ever had. He is, without a doubt, the best fielding first baseman of all time. He revolutionized the position. Keith was a great clutch player with the bat and glove. The diving plays, the double plays, the way he defended on bunts, amazing. Gold Gloves 12 years in a row. Even without the .300 lifetime avg. (he hit .298) he deserves the Hall of Fame with the emphasis on his glove and leadership, just like Ozzie Smith. And please, Mets, get that number 17 out on the wall for the last year at Shea. He deserves it, no question.

Theresa
April 17, 2008
My memories of Keith Hernandez go all the way back to specially hating him as a Cardinal. Oh, he was such a fierce bastard, with that damn mustache, and his damn doubles with MOB, and his damn 3-6-3s!

Then there was first disbelief, then joy when he became a Met in '83. About a month after he came to the team, after he had just turned his fiftieth 3-6-3, and hit his hundredth double with MOB, I was pinching myself and saying, "He does this stuff ALL THE TIME!! HE DOES IT ALL THE TIME!!" For me, he represents the pure joy that those Mets teams brought me in those days.

I loved him, and I always will. I even love him in the booth.

Mitch45
June 7, 2008
The Mets' failure to retire #17 for Keith is an ongoing crime being committed by the Wilpon regime.

The Mets had better not retire Piazza's #31 and leave Keith off the wall. Keith did much more for the Mets with his head as well as his bat than Piazza ever did or could. Keith was the consummate field general, the Mark Messier of the Mets.

JerseeJerry
October 9, 2008
Well there is nothing else I can really add about Keith Hernandez the player. We got him for virtually nothing in mid 1983: Neil Allen, and a bag of stale peanuts I believe. Coming off a World Series championship with St. Louis in 1982, he really must have worn out his welcome there to be traded to the team that would become the Cardinals main adversary from 1984-1990. I remember that within about 2-3 weeks of us acquiring Keith that the Starline poster company came out with a Hernandez poster. They probably sold 100,000 posters that 1st year. Keith truly exemplified the 1984-1988 Mets teams. Hard working, scrappy, never out of a game. But above all a HATED team by fans, and opponents alike. With all due respect to Donny Baseball, nobody, I mean NOBODY perfected the 3-6-3 DP like Keith. Additionally he was a DEVASTATING hitter, especially when the chips were down, and the outcome on the line.

But enough about Keith the player. Keith the broadcaster I detest. He always, I mean ALWAYS seems to highlight the other teams positives, and things they need to do to win, and it seems he always downgrades the Mets efforts, not once does it seem that he is on our side. Just my observation.

Mitch45
February 1, 2013
Keith Hernandez is a Mets legend.

First as an All-Star player and team field general.

Then as Elaine Benes' boyfriend and Kramer's accused spitter on "Seinfeld". "Nice game, pretty boy."

And now as Mets broadcaster on SNY.

I love the guy.

Jim Snedeker
August 11, 2015
I remember reading a newspaper article Keith wrote about his experiences as a Met and being in New York.

He said that when he learned he'd been traded to the Mets, he was scared to death, because he thought anyone who walked the city streets would be beaten up or murdered. His feelings began to change when a cab driver refused to accept his money for a ride.

Now look at him--about as New York as you can get!

George P
August 11, 2015
I was at lots of games at Shea, 2 rows up in box seats off the first base line. What impressed me about Mr. Hernandez was his size. He was a big guy. Also, he has said he turned his glove left or right in the hope of getting a slight advantage on an inside or outside pitch knowing what was coming from Doc, Ronnie, Bobby, et al. Also, on an obvious bunt situation, he would charge the plate and those throws to either second or third were remarkable outs. A great player. Best overall first baseman I have seen in my 63 years. Hall of Fame in my mind, but the blow, I feel, blew his shot at it. I hope you enjoyed my memories. Please respond back for yours. Let's Go Metsies!!!

George

Morrie
January 22, 2020
I have always believed that Keith belongs in the Hall. He revolutionized play at his position, recognizing that how he positioned himself depending on pitcher and situation was as important as situational hitting. Alas, the Hall rarely credits fielding.

(Who knows what the future might bring? I long believed that Marvin Miller belongs in the Hall and he has finally made it).

I admit that I think he might have done better, if not elected, but for the cocaine issue.

We Mets fans are blessed with him as an announcer.

rich m.
August 20, 2021
I loved watching him play first base. He saved dozens of runs with his range and skill and aggressive fielding.

I have studied the lifetime stats of Gil Hodges and Keith Hernandez and have concluded IMHO that adding up the numbers and my admiration of watching Keith's fielding and timely hitting and Gil's being beloved by fans in Brooklyn and NY Mets-IMHO they both equally deserve to be IN the HOF or they both deserve to miss HOF status (like say Jim Kaat) and belong instead in the (hall of the Very Good). But their numbers are so close that whatever happens/or doesn't happen it should be the same for both.

Don J
April 22, 2022
I remember when the Mets got Keith Hernandez in 1983. First thing is that I graduated high school the day after. The second thing is me sneaking up to the hotel room I was sharing with my Grandpa at my Dad's wedding to my Stepmom to watch his first game as a Met. The sight of him in a Met uniform blew my mind as a 18-year old and had no idea that he would help bring a championship to the Mets 3 years later








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