Willie Hernandez, Former American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner has died
Former baseball relief pitcher Willie Hernandez dead at 69. Learn more about Willie Hernandez obituary and death...
Willie Hernandez Death – Former American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Willie Hernandez has passed away. Willie Hernandez was announced dead today, Tuesday, the 21st of November 2023. He died on Monday at the age of 69. So far, no official news on Willie Hernandez cause of death has been released.
Willie Hernandez
Personal Life
Born November 14, 1954. Guillermo Hernández Villanueva was a Puerto Rican former baseball relief pitcher. Hernández was born and raised in Aguada, Puerto Rico. Post-retirement, he returned to Puerto Rico, where he managed a construction business and later became the owner of a cattle ranch.
Career
In 1984, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the American League Cy Young Award and the American League Most Valuable Player Award, leading the Detroit Tigers to victory in the World Series.
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Commencing his professional journey with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1973, he honed his skills as a starting pitcher in their minor-league system from 1974 to 1976. His path took a turn when he was acquired by the Chicago Cubs in the 1976 Rule 5 Draft, contributing primarily as a relief pitcher from 1977 to 1983.
His performance underwent a significant transformation after incorporating a screwball and cut fastball into his pitching repertoire. The turning point came in May 1983 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Instrumental in guiding them to the National League pennant, he showcased his prowess in the 1983 World Series, allowing zero hits and zero runs in three games.
Achievement
March 1984 marked his trade to the Detroit Tigers. Serving as the team’s closer in 1984, he boasted a 9–3 win–loss record with 32 saves and a stellar 1.92 earned run average (ERA). His efforts were pivotal in securing the Tigers’ 1984 World Series championship, making him only the third player in major-league history—following in the footsteps of Sandy Koufax and Denny McLain—to clinch the Cy Young Award, MVP Award, and World Series title in a single season.
Hernández continued to contribute to the Tigers until the 1989 season. Over his 13-season major-league career, he participated in 744 games—733 as a relief pitcher and 11 as a starter—amassing a 70–63 win–loss record with a 3.38 ERA, 788 strikeouts, and 147 saves.
An obituary is not available at this time for Willie Hernandez.
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