World Series Champion and beloved SNY analyst Keith Hernandez retired No. 17 by Mets on Saturday, the fourth player And become the manager Casey Stengel. And Gil Hodges was honored in the history of the franchise. This is the eighth of the10-part daily countdownof Hernandez's greatest moments and achievements after arriving at Flushing in 1983.
No. 3: Captain, my captain
Mets did not officially appoint a captain for the first 25 years, but after a sudden ascension, 1986 It culminated in the year. At the World Series Championship, it was clear who was the first captain in franchise history.
Keith Hernandez, co-MVP of the National League in 1979 and World Series Champion with St. Louis in 1982, emerged as an unquestionable leader during the first full season in Flushing. did. Following an in-season deal from the 1983 Cardinal.
"Keith taught us how to do it Darryl Strawberry Said earlier this year when Hernandez No. 17 was announced to retire in the city field before the Mets match against Marlins on Saturday.
Hernandez is the manager of Mets. When Davy Johnson announced his decision to become a captain at a team meeting in the spring of 1987, he claimed to be "totally shocked." What we had to do after winning the World Series with the team a year ago, and suddenly it was "Oh Keith, I call you a captain." As such, it was the end of the meeting. "Hernandez told the post. "I was surprised.
" But that made a lot of sense to me. The captain of the baseball team isn't like hockey, it's another dynamic, but it certainly means something. It's an honorable designation. Obviously, Davie felt that way about me, but I was surprised because Gary Carter was still on the team. "
Sure. In 1985, Carter, an 11-time all-star catcher arriving from Montreal, was added as a co-captain with Hernandez in 1988. John Franco (2001-04) and David Wright (2013-18) are the only other players in Team Anal so designated.
When Hernandez spoke to Steve Serby of the post about the role of leadership in a detailed Q & A last Sunday, he "set an example" for the Metsway Hall of Fame outfielder Rubrock. I tried to do that. And others were doing it for him early in his career in St. Louis.
Hernandez said his only regret was sewing a "C" on his uniform, as the captain did in hockey in the first season, but Carter told him as co-captain. The letter was deleted the next season it joined.
