Hernandez, Keith
Baseball
b. Oct. 20, 1953, San Francisco, CA
A left-handed first baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals, Hernandez tied with Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1979 NL most valuable player award. Hernandez led the league in hitting at .344, in runs scored with 116, and in doubles with 48 that season.
He joined the Cardinals near the end of the 1974 season, played part-time in 1975, and became a starter the following year. An excellent hitter with a good batting eye, he was also a very good defensive player, the winner of 11 Gold Gloves.
Hernandez led the league in runs scored again in 1980. He was traded to the New York Mets during the 1983 season and remained with them through 1989, leading the league in walks with 94 in 1986.
He finished his 17-year career with the AL's Cleveland Indians in 1990. Hernandez had a career average of .296, with 2,182 hits, including 426 doubles, 60 triples, and 162 home runs. He scored 1,124 runs and drove in 1,071.