History of Keith Hernandez in Timeline

Keith Hernandez is a former MLB first baseman who played 17 seasons. A five-time All-Star, he shared the 1979 NL MVP award and secured World Series titles with both the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. Since 1998, he has transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a color commentator for Mets television broadcasts.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1922: Birth of John Hernandez

In 1922, John Hernandez, Keith Hernandez's father, was born. He was a minor league first baseman affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees in the 1940s.

October 20, 1953: Keith Hernandez Born

On October 20, 1953, Keith Hernandez was born. He would become a professional baseball first baseman, playing 17 seasons in MLB.

1971: High School Graduation

In 1971, Keith Hernandez graduated from Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California, after attending Terra Nova High School in Pacifica during his freshman year. He was a star athlete in high school.

1971: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals

In 1971, Keith Hernandez was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 42nd round of the Major League Baseball draft as the 783rd player selected. He briefly played at the College of San Mateo before being drafted.

1973: Promotion to Tulsa Oilers

In the second half of the 1973 season, Keith Hernandez was promoted to the Tulsa Oilers, the Cardinals' AAA affiliate, where he batted .333.

August 30, 1974: Major League Debut

On August 30, 1974, Keith Hernandez made his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco Giants, going 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.

1975: Splitting Time Between Tulsa and Cardinals

In 1975, Keith Hernandez split his time between the Tulsa Oilers and the St. Louis Cardinals. While he had a .996 fielding percentage, he struggled with major league pitching.

1976: Uniform Number Change

In 1976, Keith Hernandez switched his uniform number to 37 to honor Mickey Mantle.

1976: Mets First Winning Season

In 1976, The New York Mets had their first winning season since 1976.

1978: First Gold Glove Award

In 1978, Keith Hernandez won his first Gold Glove Award, recognized for his fielding abilities.

1979: National League leader

In 1979, Hernandez led the National League in runs scored, batting average, and doubles.

1979: Marriage to Sue Broecker

In 1979, Hernandez married Sue Broecker.

1979: Shared MVP Award

In 1979, Keith Hernandez led the league with a .344 batting average, 48 doubles, and 116 runs scored, sharing the National League's Most Valuable Player Award with Willie Stargell.

1980: Covers Life Through Early in the 1980 Season

I'm Keith Hernandez covers his life through early in the 1980 season.

1980: National League leader

In 1980, Hernandez led the National League in runs scored and on-base percentage.

1980: Cocaine Use and Testimony

In 1980, Keith Hernandez testified that approximately 40 percent of MLB players were using cocaine. He admitted to using cocaine himself and said he believed it led to his trade. He stopped using it after being traded to the Mets.

1980: Game-Winning RBIs Statistic Official

In 1980, the game-winning RBIs statistic became official. Keith Hernandez holds the career record with 129.

1982: World Series Victory with the Cardinals

In 1982, Keith Hernandez and the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. Hernandez hit a home run in Game 6 and contributed eight RBIs during the series.

June 15, 1983: Traded to the Mets

On June 15, 1983, Keith Hernandez was traded to the New York Mets for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey after disagreements with Cardinals management.

1983: Rookie of the Year

In 1983, Darryl Strawberry was names Rookie of the Year.

1983: Previous Game-Winning RBIs Record

In 1983, Harold Baines held the previous game-winning RBIs record with 22.

1983: Divorce from Sue Broecker

In 1983, Hernandez divorced Sue Broecker.

1984: Second in MVP Voting

In 1984, Keith Hernandez finished second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting and became a leader of the Mets' young core of ballplayers.

1985: Single-season record

In 1985, Hernandez set the single-season record for game-winning RBIs.

1985: Batting Slump Advice from Father

In 1985, Keith Hernandez credited his father for helping him out of a batting slump by observing his at-bats on TV and giving him advice.

1985: Published "If at First: A Season With the Mets"

In 1985, Keith Hernandez published "If at First: A Season With the Mets," his diary of the 1985 season.

1985: Record for Game-Winning RBIs

In 1985, Keith Hernandez set a record for game-winning RBIs with 24.

1985: Cocaine Use Public Record

In 1985, Keith Hernandez's previous cocaine use became public record during the Pittsburgh trial of drug dealer Curtis Strong. MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth suspended Hernandez, which was later commuted under certain conditions.

1985: Heated Rivalry with the Cardinals

In 1985, the Mets and Cardinals were embroiled in a heated rivalry atop the National League East. The Mets narrowly lost the division to the Cardinals, despite winning 98 games.

1986: National League leader in walks

In 1986, Hernandez led the National League in walks.

1986: World Series Victory with the Mets

In 1986, Keith Hernandez and the New York Mets won the World Series in seven games over the Boston Red Sox. Hernandez hit .310 with 83 RBI during the regular season and drove in 3 runs in Game 7.

1986: Mets Expected World Series Run

In 1986, Keith Hernandez expected the Mets to make a World Series run, partially influencing his decision to accept the conditions of his commuted suspension.

June 14, 1987: Mets game error (fictional)

According to the show Seinfeld, on June 14, 1987, Hernandez committed an error in a Mets game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium, which cost the Mets the game. In reality, the Mets defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates that day, and Hernandez did not commit an error.

1987: Named Team Captain

In 1987, Keith Hernandez was named the first Team Captain in the Mets' franchise history.

1987: Account of Life Inside The Mets

In 1987, William Goldman and Mike Lupica wrote "Wait Till Next Year", which looked at life inside the Mets over the whole 1987 season.

1988: Appearance on Sesame Street

In 1988, Hernandez appeared with Mookie Wilson in an episode of Sesame Street, where they taught Mr. Snuffleupagus to play baseball and appeared in the song "Put Down the Duckie."

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1988: Featured in "Wait Till Next Year"

In 1988, Keith Hernandez was heavily featured in the book "Wait Till Next Year", portrayed as the most vocal of the Mets in dealing with the press.

1988: Final Gold Glove and Division Crown

In 1988, Keith Hernandez won his 11th and final Gold Glove and led his team to another division crown. However, the Mets lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.

1988: Game-Winning RBIs Statistic official until...

In 1988, the game-winning RBIs statistic was official until then.

1988: Statistic kept between 1980 and 1988

The game-winning RBI stat was kept between 1980 and 1988.

1989: Death of his mother

In 1989, Hernandez's mother, Jacqueline Hernandez, died after suffering from Alzheimer's for nine years.

1989: Free Agency

In 1989, Keith Hernandez's batting average fell, and the Mets chose not to re-sign him. He was granted free agency on November 13.

1990: Retirement

In 1990, Keith Hernandez signed with the Cleveland Indians but was injured and appeared in only 43 games. He retired at the end of the season.

1992: Guest appearance on Seinfeld

In 1992, Hernandez guest-starred as himself in "The Boyfriend," a two-part episode of the sitcom Seinfeld, dating Elaine Benes and becoming the subject of Jerry Seinfeld's admiration.

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1992: Death of John Hernandez

In 1992, John Hernandez, Keith Hernandez's father, passed away. He had been a minor league first baseman.

1993: Appearance in Ghostwriter

In 1993, Hernandez made an appearance in an episode of the children's series Ghostwriter entitled "Building Bridges".

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1994: Appearance in Law & Order, The Scout and The Yards

In 1994, Hernandez appeared in an episode of Law & Order titled "Wager", and in the movies The Scout and The Yards.

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1997: Inducted into New York Mets Hall of Fame

In 1997, Hernandez was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

1998: Appearance in final episode of Seinfeld

In 1998, Hernandez appeared in the final episode of Seinfeld.

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1998: Mets Color Commentator

Since 1998, Keith Hernandez has worked as a color commentator on Mets television broadcasts.

2002: Mets' all-time first baseman

In 2002, Hernandez was voted the Mets' all-time first baseman by fans in celebration of the team's 40th anniversary.

2004: Hall of Fame eligibility ends

In 2004, after nine years on the ballot, Hernandez did not receive enough votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, thus ending his eligibility.

2005: Marriage to Kai Thompson

In 2005, Hernandez married Kai Thompson.

April 22, 2006: Controversy during broadcast

On April 22, 2006, Hernandez caused controversy during a broadcast against the San Diego Padres with comments about a female team massage therapist being in the dugout.

2006: Color Commentator for SNY

In 2006, Keith Hernandez began working as a color commentator for SNY on Mets games, alongside Ron Darling and Gary Cohen.

2007: Mustache Madness contest winner

In 2007, Hernandez won the "Mustache Madness" contest on newsday.com, and the American Mustache Institute chose his facial hair as the "top sports mustache ever".

2008: Published Shea Good-Bye: The Untold Inside Story of the Historic 2008 Season

In 2008, Keith Hernandez published "Shea Good-Bye: The Untold Inside Story of the Historic 2008 Season".

2009: Live Sports Event: Series

In 2010, Hernandez and the SNY Mets broadcast team won the "Live Sports Event: Series 2009 Mets: The Inaugural Year of Citi Field" New York Emmy award.

2010: New York Emmy Awards

In 2010, Hernandez won two New York Emmy Awards: one individually for Sports Analyst and another as part of the SNY Mets broadcast team.

February 2011: Divorce from Kai Thompson

In February 2011, Hernandez divorced Kai Thompson.

2011: Eligible for Veterans Committee consideration

Since 2011, Hernandez has been eligible for consideration for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, but he has yet to be inducted.

June 17, 2012: Mets' 50th anniversary celebration

On June 17, 2012, during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Mets, Hernandez was selected as the Mets' all-time first baseman and spoke about how his trade to New York reenergized him.

September 27, 2012: Mustache Shaved for Charity

On September 27, 2012, Keith Hernandez had his mustache shaved off for charity.

2015: Royalties from Seinfeld

As of 2015, Hernandez makes about $3,000 a year in royalties from his appearances on Seinfeld.

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2017: Joins MLB on Fox

In 2017, Hernandez joined the MLB on Fox broadcast team as a studio analyst for the MLB postseason.

2017: Studio Analyst for MLB on Fox

Since 2017, Keith Hernandez has also served as a studio analyst for MLB on Fox.

May 15, 2018: Release of "I'm Keith Hernandez"

On May 15, 2018, Keith Hernandez's book, "I'm Keith Hernandez", was released.

June 2019: Support for President Trump

In June 2019, Hernandez said on a Fox Business appearance that he supports President Donald Trump because he had "helped everybody" in regards to the economy.

August 21, 2021: Cardinals' Hall of Fame induction ceremony

On August 21, 2021, the official induction ceremony for Hernandez into the Cardinals' Hall of Fame was held.

November 19, 2021: Tweet about anti-vaccine book

On November 19, 2021, Hernandez tweeted a photograph of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine book "The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health", prompting criticism and deletion of the tweet.