Books and articles about Willie Hernandez

SHOPPING » Look for Willie Hernandez books at BN.com » Look for Willie Hernandez books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Greatest Teams » Greatest Teams: 1984 Tigers Submissions » August 1982: Two Cy Young Winners Play the Outfield by Lyle Spatz Around the Web » Hernandez to manage in All-Star Futures game from freep.com » Willie Hernandez from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Willie Hernandez was a fine, but unsung, reliever until 1984. He had been among the NL leaders in appearances with the Cubs in 1982 and the Cubs and Phillies in 1983. Traded to Detroit March 24, 1984, Hernandez quickly became manager Sparky Anderson's stopper. His phenomenal season (9-3, 1.92, 32 saves in 33 chances, 80 games, 112 strikeouts in 140 innings) earned both the MVP and Cy Young awards. He appeared in every non-complete postseason game for Detroit, with three saves in as many chances. In 1985 he became the first Tiger with back-to-back 30-save seasons, but he lost 10 games and gradually fell into disfavor with the fans. Stating a preference to be called Guillermo (his given first name), the mustachioed screwballer took a back seat to Mike Henneman in Detroit's bullpen in 1987 and 1988. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 22, 1979: In the first of two at Wrigley Field, the Reds roll over the Cubs 12–1, behind Bill Bonham. Johnny Bench ties the National League record by collecting five walks and Dave Concepcion hits an 8th inning grand slam, off Willie Hernandez to put the score in double digits. The Cubs come back in game two to win, 8–4. » July 23, 1979: At Wrigley, the Reds and Cubs complete a game suspended on May 10th because the Cubs had to catch a plane. That contest was tied 7-7 after nine innings. Both teams score in the 11th and the Cubs win in the 18th on a run scoring single by Steve Ontiveros. The Cubs then win the regularly scheduled game, 21, with Willie Hernandez getting the victory. » May 22, 1983: The Phillies make a pair of trades, sending P Sid Monge to the Padres for OF Joe Lefebvre and P Dick Ruthven and minor leaguer Bill Johnson to the Cubs for P Willie Hernandez. » April 22, 1984: The Tigers roll over the White Sox, 9–1, with Kirk Gibson hitting his 4th homer of the year in the first inning. Juan Berenguer goes seven innings for the win, with Aurelio Lopez and Willie Hernandez finishing up for Detroit. Chicago finishes up with 1B Mike Squires on the mound for the last batter. » May 30, 1984: Kirk Gibson's 9th inning homer, off Steve McCatty, gives the Tigers a 2–1 squeaker over the A's. Reliever Willie Hernandez is the winner. » July 13, 1984: At Minnesota, Detroit tops the Twins, 5–3, when Lou Whitaker bloops an inside the park homer to win it. Detroit sends it to extra innings when RF Kirk Gibson throws out Tim Teufel at home with two out in the 9th. Willie Hernandez (5–0) is the winner. » September 5, 1984: Cal Ripken's first-inning error lets in a score, and that's it as the Tigers beat Baltimore, 1–0. Juan Berenguer (8–9) is the winner with Willie Hernandez picking up his 28th save. Mike Flanagan goes all the way in the loss. Detroit's magic number is now 15. » September 7, 1984: Down 4–0 in the 8th, the Tigers score four runs -- three on a homer by Kirk Gibson -- to tie the Blue Jays in Toronto. In the 10th, Dave Bergman cracks a 3-run homer and the Tigers win, 7–4. Willie Hernandez (9–2) wins with three innings of shutout relief. The Tigers lead the American League East by nine 1/2 games. » October 5, 1984: In game 3, Milt Wilcox and Willie Hernandez combine on a 1–0 three-hitter to give the Tigers a 3-game sweep of the Royals in the ALCS. » October 30, 1984: Tigers reliever Willie Hernandez wins the American League Cy Young Award, edging fellow reliever Dan Quisenberry of the Royals. Hernandez was 9–3 with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA. » November 6, 1984: Willie Hernandez wins the American League MVP Award, joining Rollie Fingers as the only relief pitchers to be named MVP and Cy Young Award winner in the same season. Kent Hrbek is 2nd with Dan Quisenberry third. Boston's Tony Armas is the 7th, despite winning the home run and RBI titles; the last player to lead in those categories and not win was Ted Williams. » August 29, 1986: California scores eight runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, the final four coming on Dick Schofield's 2-out grand slam off Willie Hernandez, to beat Detroit 13–12. » August 6, 1991: Toronto's Tom Henke saves his 24th game in 24 opportunities breaking the record set by John Franco in 1988, and tied by Rob Dibble two years later. The Blue Jays edge the booming bats of the Tigers, 2-1, and increase their lead to five 1/2 games over Detroit. Guillermo Hernandez of Detroit saved 32 consecutive games in 1984, but blown saves were not an official stat at the time.