Hernandez, "Willie" (Guillermo)
Baseball
b. Nov. 14, 1954, Aguada, PR
A left-hander with an explosive fastball, Hernandez won the AL's Cy Young Award and was named the league's most valuable player in 1984, when he appeared in a league-leading 80 games for the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 9-3 record, 32 saves, and a 1.92 ERA.
Hernandez also had a fine post-season, appearing in all three games and picking up a save in Detroit's league playoff victory over the Kansas City Royals, then saving 2 games with a 1.69 ERA in 3 appearances during a five-game World Series win against the San Diego Padres.
He entered the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs of the NL in 1977. His best season there was 1982, when he had 10 saves and a 3.00 ERA. He went to the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1984 season, then to the Tigers in 1984.
After a total of 55 saves in 1985 and 1986, Hernandez began to suffer arm trouble. He retired after the 1989 season with a 70-63 record, 147 saves, and a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 788 hitters and walked 349 in 1,044 innings.