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Sunday, July 10, 2022

Former 1B Keith Hernandez cherishes ‘a great moment,’ as New York Mets retire No. 17 jersey

About an hour before addressing the packed house at Citi Field, a concentrated Keith Hernandez stared in deep study at his index cards in a mostly empty interview room—his big brother sitting just a step away.

Always prepared. Always a pro. Always with Gary by his side.

A rock-steady leader for the New York Mets’ last championship team, Hernandez received a rare honor Saturday when the club retired his No. 17 jersey before a game against the Miami Marlins.

“This is just a great moment for me,” Hernandez said from a podium between the pitcher’s mound and second base. “I never dreamed I’d be here this long, in the organization. I am absolutely humbled and proud that my number will be up in the rafters for eternity.”

Moments later, No. 17 in blue with orange trim was unveiled along the Citi Field roof in the left-field corner, just to the left of the No. 36 that was retired for pitcher Jerry Koosman last year.

Hall of Famers Tom Seaver (41) and Mike Piazza (31) are the only other Mets players to have their numbers retired by the team. Former managers Casey Stengel (37) and Gil Hodges (14) are also honored.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 10, 2022 at 06:20 PM | 60 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: keith hernandez, mets

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1. cHiEf iMpaCt oFfiCEr JE

Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:52 AM (#6086208)

Nice ceremony, pretty boy.

2. Adam Starblind Posted: July 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM (#6086213)

There had to be a second spitter.

3. Howie Menckel Posted: July 11, 2022 at 02:13 PM (#6086242)

Fellow Gold Glove NY 1B Don Mattingly turned up on the field during the ceremony, apparently, which is interesting.

4. JJ1986 Posted: July 11, 2022 at 05:05 PM (#6086259)

Fellow Gold Glove NY 1B Don Mattingly turned up on the field during the ceremony, apparently, which is interesting.

He did not have to travel far to get there.

5. Howie Menckel Posted: July 11, 2022 at 05:34 PM (#6086260)

heh.

I guess that's why my friend called it "impromptu."

6. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 07:35 PM (#6086270)

How many players have had their number retired by two teams. Besides Hernandez I would think players like maddux, kaat, Winfield, Rose or Frank robinson. I'm guessing there are more than a few. Anyone with three ?

7. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 07:39 PM (#6086271)

Ok I have a list from the internets. There are ten. One of them is a manager and one has had his number retired by three teams (bonus points if you can name the three teams).

Robinson and Maddux were on the list

8. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 07:42 PM (#6086273)

Now if someone would just wake up and get some momentum behind a Hernandez for the MLB HOF.

9. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 07:46 PM (#6086274)

The manager must be Stengel.

10. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 07:49 PM (#6086275)

I'm gonna guess Aaron, for the Milwaukee connection.

11. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 07:54 PM (#6086276)

I'm cheating by looking at BBREF, so I won't offer guesses that I found by looking up. But there are at least 2 managers.

12. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:13 PM (#6086277)

I will guess Sparky Anderson for manager. I'm assuming we're not counting Jackie Robinson.

Robinson
Maddux
Nolan Ryan
Larry Walker
Luis Aparicio
Harold Baines
Lefty Grove
Jimmy Foxx
Cy Young
Gary Carter

13. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:20 PM (#6086279)

Foxx and Grove are no good, because the A's don't honor anyone pre-Oakland. And Cy Young had no number.

14. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:26 PM (#6086280)

Pedro? Reggie?

15. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:27 PM (#6086281)

there are also at least 2 players with three teams.

16. JJ1986 Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:39 PM (#6086283)

Ryan is definitely one of the 3 team guys. Carter is a no because the Mets haven't retired his yet.

17. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:47 PM (#6086285)

Gil Hodges?

18. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:50 PM (#6086286)

OK. Robinson, Maddux, Aaron, Stengel (one of the managers), Anderson (the other manager), Ryan, Reggie are all correct. No one has mentioned the three teams for any three team player.

19. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:53 PM (#6086287)

Hodges is correct.

20. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:57 PM (#6086288)

I may have been off slightly. Torre is in Cards and will go into Braves. Yanks don't really have the same concept but he's in monument park. So he may technically be in three

Duke snider just made Dodgers so he's in two as well

Robinson, maddux Stengel, ryan and maddux are all good

Gil Hodges is another blurry line - he is in Mets and retired by dodgers but not in the dodgers HOF

Any guesses on Ryan's three teams ?

21. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 08:59 PM (#6086289)

I’m guessing Frank Robinson - Orioles, Reds and Nats/Expos or Indians/Guardians as a manager (although I guess he was player/manager for the latter).

22. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:00 PM (#6086290)

Torre does not have his number retired by either the Braves nor the Cardinals. Hodges is not blurry. He has his number retired by both. Snider has his number retired by only the Dodgers.

23. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:02 PM (#6086291)

Robinson is correct as another 3 teamer. Reds, O's, Indians.

24. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:03 PM (#6086292)

I don't think the tigers have a HOF yet so Sparky can't be in it - is that correct ?

25. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:05 PM (#6086293)

Do the Indians/guardians have a team HOF?

26. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:05 PM (#6086294)

Duke, your question was about retired numbers, not team HOF. Sparky has his number retired by both the Reds and Tigers.

27. The Duke Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:08 PM (#6086295)

I got myself all screwed up looking this up - you're right of course

28. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:09 PM (#6086296)

Ryan's three teams are the Angels, Astros and Rangers.

29. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:10 PM (#6086297)

I think Fisk is retired by both the Red Sox and White Sox.

30. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:12 PM (#6086298)

Yes on Ryan and Fisk

31. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:16 PM (#6086299)

3 teams - Ryan and F Robinson
2 managers - Stengel and Anderson
2 teams - Maddux, Reggie, Fisk, Hodges, Aaron.

I know of at least one other player. Plus a guy who's number (by one team) and initials (by another).

32. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:17 PM (#6086300)

So what player wore three different numbers that were also worn by three unanimously elected members of the Hall of Merit?

33. JJ1986 Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:44 PM (#6086303)

I know of at least one other player.

Roy Halladay?

34. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:52 PM (#6086304)

Good one. that is another. The guy I know of is also a pitcher.

35. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:52 PM (#6086305)

Carew?

36. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:54 PM (#6086306)

3 teams - Ryan and F Robinson
2 managers - Stengel and Anderson
2 teams - Maddux, Reggie, Fisk, Hodges, Aaron, Halladay.

I know of at least one other player. Plus a guy who's number (by one team) and initials (by another).

37. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 09:56 PM (#6086307)

Carew is another. the Duke's list of 10 is now at 13 at least.

3 teams - Ryan and F Robinson
2 managers - Stengel and Anderson
2 teams - Maddux, Reggie, Fisk, Hodges, Aaron, Carew.

I know of at least one other player. Plus a guy who's number (by one team) and initials (by another).

38. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:00 PM (#6086308)

Randy Johnson has to be one of them

39. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:02 PM (#6086309)

I just checked…apparently not by the Mariners (yet)

40. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:04 PM (#6086310)

Not RJ

41. SoSH U at work Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:12 PM (#6086311)

Rollie?

42. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:17 PM (#6086313)

Fingers, yes.

3 teams - Ryan and F Robinson
2 managers - Stengel and Anderson
2 teams - Maddux, Reggie, Fisk, Hodges, Aaron, Halladay, Carew, Fingers.

Plus a guy who's number (by one team) and initials (by another).

There may be others.

43. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:18 PM (#6086315)

Ok I stumbled across this one - Wade Boggs

For the pitcher - Eck?

EDIT: I guessed Eck before I saw Fingers confirmed as the pitcher

44. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:21 PM (#6086316)

Boggs, yes. Not Eck

3 teams - Ryan and F Robinson
2 managers - Stengel and Anderson
2 teams - Maddux, Reggie, Fisk, Hodges, Aaron, Halladay, Carew, Fingers, Boggs.

Plus a guy who's number (by one team) and initials (by another).

45. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:31 PM (#6086318)

How can you retire a guy's initials? Like if the Yankees retired Babe Ruth's initials, could they not have Bill Robinson on the team?

46. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:41 PM (#6086321)

It's a guy who's player number was retired by one team, and his (symbolic) number in the form of initials was retired by another for off field contributions to the organization.

47. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:46 PM (#6086322)

The Brewers have BU retired for Bob Uecker, but it's not him.

48. JJ1986 Posted: July 11, 2022 at 10:55 PM (#6086323)

I think Baseball Reference may be wrong about some of those retired initials.

49. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 11, 2022 at 11:08 PM (#6086327)

Perhaps, but this one is legit.

50. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 11:30 PM (#6086330)

If I'm not mistaken, the Tigers just retired the whole name 'Cobb' on the wall beyond the OF fence in Detroit. Is that a retired name, or simply a reminder that "hey, Cobb played here before we had numbers.'

51. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: July 11, 2022 at 11:33 PM (#6086331)

Of course, he's not a three teamer for purposes of Duke's list.

52. vortex of dissipation Posted: July 12, 2022 at 01:09 AM (#6086336)

Ralph Kiner - number as a player by Pirates, and tribute on outfield wall as a broadcaster by Mets.

53. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 12, 2022 at 08:24 AM (#6086340)

I don’t think it’s Kiner’s initials on the outfield wall. It’s a logo that has his name and a microphone, right? Is that the one you were thinking of, Misirlou?

Link

54. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: July 12, 2022 at 09:05 AM (#6086341)

A little change in the trajectory of this thread, given that Hernandez is the subject: For those old enough to have watched Hernandez, he was considered a possible/probable/legit HOF candidate for much of his career...right?

I started watching baseball in the early 1980s. The first World Series I watched start-to-finish was 1982, when he was clearly one of the best players, and the team leader, for a world champion. He had been the co-MVP of the NL a few years earlier, unquestioned best defensive first baseman in the sport, always getting MVP votes, etc.

Then he gets traded in an almost insulting way to the Mets, and finishes in the top eight in the MVP his first three seasons there, more Gold Gloves, the incredible 1986 team...after 1986, I'm a 12-year-old who is thinking that he is probably going to the Hall of Fame. But he wasn't quite as good in 1987, and declined pretty quickly after that.

Does this match up with others' feelings about him in real time? Is he somebody we should be thinking about more seriously as a HOF candidate, especially given all the broadcasting stuff he's done for years since then (not to mention Seinfeld and Just For Men products...)? He's one of the most important players in baseball for certainly eight years (1979-1986), same WAR as Killebrew, more than Vlad Guerrero, Ichiro, or Piazza, most Gold Gloves (11) for a 1B in history, and the 8th most in all of baseball history...just sayin'.

55. Howie Menckel Posted: July 12, 2022 at 09:59 AM (#6086342)

There was a cocaine issue in St. Louis that badly damaged his chances, and then he fell off a career cliff too soon.

fair or unfair, he was not seriously looked at as a HOF guy after that.

56. Rally Posted: July 12, 2022 at 10:03 AM (#6086343)

How can you retire a guy's initials? Like if the Yankees retired Babe Ruth's initials, could they not have Bill Robinson on the team?

He would have to go by Will or William. Even if his actual birth name was Bill.

57. Rally Posted: July 12, 2022 at 10:06 AM (#6086344)

#54,

I started watching baseball about the same time as you, and I concur on the Hernandez assessment. I thought he’d last longer and make himself more of an obvious HOF case. But he did enough that he should be in. He has the peak, just not the late career number padding.

58. Rally Posted: July 12, 2022 at 10:09 AM (#6086345)

In 1987 he was 33, and had over 2000 hits. At the time I would have guessed he’d get at least 2700, if he didn’t make a run at 3000. He was excellent in 1987, but never played a full season after that, and fell short of 2200.

59. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: July 12, 2022 at 10:26 AM (#6086347)

I don’t think it’s Kiner’s initials on the outfield wall. It’s a logo that has his name and a microphone, right? Is that the one you were thinking of, Misirlou?

Yes

60. gehrig97 Posted: July 12, 2022 at 05:16 PM (#6086393)

Hernandez addressed his career arc in an interview prior to the ceremony. Tore his hamstring in 1988, and then broke his kneecap in 1989. He said something to the effect of "I couldn't afford to lose a step, and I lost several. That was it."

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Sunday, July 10, 2022

Former 1B Keith Hernandez cherishes ‘a great moment,’ as New York Mets retire No. 17 jersey

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