Jackie Hernández
Jackie Hernandez | |
---|---|
Died: October 12, 2019 Miami, Florida, U.S. | (aged 79)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 14, 1965, for the California Angels | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 1, 1973, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .208 |
Home runs | 12 |
Runs batted in | 121 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Jacinto Hernández Zulueta (September 11, 1940 – October 12, 2019) was a Cuban professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop and third baseman from 1965 to 1973, most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won two consecutive National League Eastern Division titles in 1971 and 1972, and won the 1971 World Series.
Baseball career
Hernández began his professional baseball career with
Hernández entered the Indians' farm system as a catcher, and in 1961, he caught
Hernández served as the Royals' everyday shortstop in their inaugural season, and received the plurality of the starts at that position in 1970, sharing time with
He was traded along with Bob Johnson and Jim Campanis from the Royals to the Pirates for Freddie Patek, Bruce Dal Canton and Jerry May at the Winter Meetings on December 2, 1970.[3] Initially slated to play in a reserve role, Hernández became the Pirates' regular shortstop after Gene Alley sustained an injury.[4] On September 1, 1971, Hernández was part of a notable milestone when, for the first time in baseball history, a team fielded a lineup that consisted entirely of African-American and Latino players.[4] Orioles manager Earl Weaver memorably said that "The Pirates can’t win the pennant with Hernandez at shortstop,"[4] but Hernandez started all seven games in the 1971 World Series and committed no errors,[4] even successfully handling the ground ball that became the final out of Game 7.
Hernandez's role decreased in subsequent seasons, and the Pirates traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for Mike Ryan in January 1974. Hernández never saw Major League action with the Phillies, however; he returned to the Pirates organization and played for their Triple-A team in 1974. He followed by playing in Mexico in 1975 and 1976.
After Hernández's retirement as a player, he remained involved with baseball as a coach, including a stint on the staff of the New Jersey Jackals in 2001.[4] He died from cancer on October 12, 2019, at age 79.[5][4]
References
- ^ a b c d Diunte, Nick. "After A World Series Championship Faded, Jackie Hernandez Found A New Life Teaching The Game", Forbes.com, October 15, 2019.
- ISBN 0-553-07184-X.
- ^ "Bucs Swing 6-Player Deal with Kansas City Royals," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, December 3, 1970. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Dipaola, Jerry. "Ex-Pirates SS Jackie Hernandez, member of 1971 World Series champs, dies", The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, October 16, 2019.
- ^ Gazdziak, Sam (October 15, 2019). "Obituary: Jackie Hernandez (1940-2019)". ripbaseball.com. RIP Baseball. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Retrosheet
- Jackie Hernández at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
- Pura Pelota