RIP 1984 Cy Young/MVP winner Willie Hernandez

[maumann]

I've seen multiple reports but not a single verifiable source, other than a Spanish-language version that quotes his wife. If I find an actual AP link, I'll add it.

He's been battling health issues for quite some time.

A very pedestrian reliever up to that point who then had three consecutive breakout years as a Tiger, particularly in 1984 when he went 9-3 with 32 saves for the world's champions, including three postseason saves.

He and Aurelio Lopez (RIP) were the 1-2 punch that propelled Detroit's bullpen.

 

[maumann]

John Hiller, who pitched for the Tigers in the 1968 World Series and survived a heart attack at age 28, is still living.

 

[HanSenSE]

Tigers confirm ...

 

[CD Boogie]

I used him in the Tigers/Phillies block of the Immaculate Grid the other day. RIP, that Tigers team was special.

 

[UPChip]

John Hiller, who pitched for the Tigers in the 1968 World Series and survived a heart attack at age 28, is still living.

In the ultimate UP threadjack, Hiller lives in northern Dickinson County or at least he did last I heard. After that heart attack, he worked his way back into shape at the same YMCA (well, sort of, it's been renovated) in Duluth that I frequent.

 

[maumann]

I used him in the Tigers/Phillies block of the Immaculate Grid the other day. RIP, that Tigers team was special.

And not a single member of that team deemed worthy of inclusion to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. It took special committees to add Alan Trammell and Jack Morris, and I'm still not swayed that Morris deserved it. But Lou Whitaker? They screwed the pooch there.

It's almost as if the 1978 through 1991 iterations of the Tigers never existed outside of southeastern Michigan.

 

[CD Boogie]

And not a single member of that team deemed worthy of inclusion to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA.

Yeah, kinda crazy. But at the end of the day, they'll be better represented with Trammell, Morris, Spark and one day Whitaker than the 1986 Mets are with only Carter. Man, that Tigers team just clicked. 35-5 outta the gate, rock solid up the middle with Parrish, Trammell, Whitaker, and Lemon. Unbelievable pen work. They had speed, power, just a fun team to watch.

 

[Tighthead]

The Tigers were my AL team at the time (thank you, Thomas Sullivan Magnum). Just a crazy season with so many guys having career years or nearly so - Herndon, Thomas.

I don’t know if anyone will remember it, but at some point late or early in that season (it was cold, I think April), Herndon hit a 400+ foot homer that never got more than 20 feet off the ground. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Edit - it was 1987, and people claim it was still rising as it hit the upper deck. I had the concept right.

RIP Willie - a great season on a great team. Bless You Boys.

 

[UPChip]

The Tigers were my AL team at the time (thank you, Thomas Sullivan Magnum). Just a crazy season with so many guys having career years or nearly so - Herndon, Thomas.

I don’t know if anyone will remember it, but at some point late or early in that season (it was cold, I think April), Herndon hit a 400+ foot homer that never got more than 20 feet off the ground. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Edit - it was 1987, and people claim it was still rising as it hit the upper deck. I had the concept right.

RIP Willie - a great season on a great team. Bless You Boys.

I went looking for it after you saw it, but yeah, it was Opening Day 1987. Can't find a video of it. Herndon also hit a homer just over the left-field wall that was the only run in the winner-take-all regular-season finale against Toronto that year.

 

[Ookpik]

RIP.

 

[Songbird]

I was an NL purist at 13 and still wanted the '84 Tigers to win because 1) they were so good and 2) Hernandez was so dominant and mostly because 3) the Dodgers booted Garvey and I didn't want the Padres to win the World Series with him.

Also, Hernandez was on the Tigers team on Nintendo RBI Baseball. I used to mash with that team.

 

[WolvEagle]

The summer of '84 in Detroit was amazing - and Hernandez was the guy who put them over the top. It's sad that the two pieces of the puzzle who came to Detroit together and really made a difference - Hernandez and Dave Bergman - are now gone.

Still, Hernandez was a jerk when he dumped a pail of water over Mitch Albom's head ... Then again, I've never been a fan of liars (especially journalists) who were allowed to get away with it.

And, Lou Whitaker absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame.

 

[maumann]

Denny McLain (Detroit's other Cy Young/MVP) did the same thing to Jim Hawkins and Watson Spoelstra.

McLain is still a Grade A Jerk and still alive because even Death doesn't want him.

 

[Starman]

McLain has been pointedly not featured in any of the occasional gatherings of the '68 teams, primarily because his most recent criminal activities involved swindling several hundred Michigan families out of their retirement funds when he steered the Farmer Peet meat packing company into the ground, and a lot of people are still flaming mad about it.
For a while he was persona non grata around the organization.
That said, he hasn't committed any new crimes in 25 odd years or so, and he's been allowed to attend several of the functions, but he's been kept discreetly in the background.

There aren't many of the Boys of 68 left anyway.
Hiller, McLain, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton. Mickey Lolich is still around but from most reports physically struggling. Horton is still ambulatory if not active; he made a few ceremonial photo appearances this season.

 

[X-Hack]

And not a single member of that team deemed worthy of inclusion to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. It took special committees to add Alan Trammell and Jack Morris, and I'm still not swayed that Morris deserved it. But Lou Whitaker? They screwed the pooch there.

It's almost as if the 1978 through 1991 iterations of the Tigers never existed outside of southeastern Michigan.

Whitaker got screwed beyond belief (as did Trammell in having to wait for the Vets Committee). Honestly, Lance Parrish was probably more deserving than Morris.

 

[X-Hack]

I loved Hernandez. When they won in 1984 I was 14. I thought they would be a dynasty. I was a little sad at the time to see them deal Glenn Wilson, who seemed like a rising star, and the now sadly departed Johnny Bilton Wockenfuss, who had always been part of the landscape. But boy did that trade pay off. He was lights out in '84 and still great in '85 before hitting the skids. It was heartbreaking to watch him sobbing in the Metrodome dugout in the 1987 ALCS after getting yanked following a completely ineffective outing, with the NBC crew (I think it was Costas and Kubek) saying he had lost it.

 

[Batman]

I used him in the Tigers/Phillies block of the Immaculate Grid the other day. RIP, that Tigers team was special.

Hernandez was one of a bunch of guys the 1980s Phillies got rid of who turned into all-stars almost as soon as they left town — him, Ryne Sandberg, Lonnie Smith, Julio Franco, Dave Stewart were a few.

 

[Matt1735]

I loved Hernandez. When they won in 1984 I was 14. I thought they would be a dynasty. I was a little sad at the time to see them deal Glenn Wilson, who seemed like a rising star, and the now sadly departed Johnny Bilton Wockenfuss, who had always been part of the landscape. But boy did that trade pay off. He was lights out in '84 and still great in '85 before hitting the skids. It was heartbreaking to watch him sobbing in the Metrodome dugout in the 1987 ALCS after getting yanked following a completely ineffective outing, with the NBC crew (I think it was Costas and Kubek) saying he had lost it.

I'm a cousin of Wockenfuss. Never met him, my brother tried in Lakeland when he was coaching (i think). Was an ass.

 

[Batman]

I was a little sad at the time to see them deal Glenn Wilson, who seemed like a rising star ...

"Glennbo" was a fun player on those bad mid-80s Phillies teams. Had one of the best outfield arms in the majors for a few years and led MLB in outfield assists twice.
Once or twice a season somebody would hit a hard groundball that got through to him in right field, and he'd rush up to get it and throw the guy out at first. The first time he did it (I think it was Ryne Sandberg that he caught), nobody really knew what happened. Then after he did it again you always kept an eye out for it. Not sure I've ever seen anyone since who made a conscious effort to try and make that play on the regular like he did.

 

[Sea Bass]

I went looking for it after you saw it, but yeah, it was Opening Day 1987. Can't find a video of it. Herndon also hit a homer just over the left-field wall that was the only run in the winner-take-all regular-season finale against Toronto that year.

It was winner take all if Detroit won. The Jays would have still had to win Game 163.