"Now batting #37 Keith Hernandez......." I know some of you will say uh.....why did ya say #37 he wore #17 the thing is Keith wore #37 2 years after wearing #18 from 1974 to 1976 then switched to #37 the 7 part is a tribute to Mickey Mantle while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals then when he was traded to the New Mets he couldn't wear #37 thats how he became #17 the Mets had retired #37 in honor of the Ol Perfessor aka Casey Stengel & in 2022 they honored Keith by retiring his #17. Then Keith went on to play in 43 games in Cleveland before retiring to join the broadcasting booth in New York.
While Keith was in St. Louis he won the first of 5 of a total straight 11 Gold Gloves for them the other 6 was when he was with the Mets from 1978 to 1988. He was named to 5 All-Star Games. It was in 1979 when he came co-MVP award winner as this 1982 K-Mart states.
Keith as I mentioned was traded to the New York Mets during the 1983 season, the reason is he couldn't get along anymore with manager Whitey Herzog plus according to Whitey he felt Keith was under the influence of cocaine. In 1985 he was accused of being in part of the Pittsburgh Drug Trials other players were Dale Berra,Lonnie Smith,Lee Lacy,Lee Mazzilli,John Milner,Dave Parker, Rod Scurry,, Willie Mays Aikens,Vida Blue,Enos Cabell,Jeffery Leonard,Tim Raines Sr., Alan Wiggins. It just amazes me that out of those names 2 still made the Hall of Fame what are your thoughts sure some cleaned up their acts while others like Scurry & Wiggins later died of Drug overdosing. In 1986 he won his second World Series Ring the first came in 1982 while he was still in St. Louis. He was named captain in 1987 then after the 1989 season the Mets a Free-Agent. He signed as I mentioned with the Cleveland Indians before injuries took over then called it a career after I mentioned 43 games as well. It was in fall of 1992 Keith made pop culture status when he dated Elaine Benes only to break her heart when he revealed to her that he was a smoker.
As a Seinfeld fan it was amusing he was only New York Met besides Roger McDowell to appear on there.
Now as this piece of the set theres about 242 more of them out in the market since like I mentioned at the very begining of this series there's only 97 possible sets that could be made & your reading one that is complete. So your asking me does Keith belong in the lineup sorta does if his bat piece wasn't a Short Print & his link with the Pittsburgh Trials he doesn't however being the MVP co-winner in 1979 & his Gold Gloves he does so while I flip Back n Forth on it what do you say next up in lineup is Manny Mota until then I leave you with a quote from Rogers Hornsby "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign Autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."
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