Keith Hernandez
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1974-1990)
Keith Hernandez was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1990 for the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Mets, and the Cleveland Guardians, a span of 17 seasons. In 2,088 career games, he hit .296 with 2,182 hits, 162 home runs, and 1,071 RBI. Keith Hernandez was a 5-time All-Star, an MVP, a 11-time Gold Glove, and a 2-time Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 25,249.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 6'0" / 180 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1974-08-30
- Last Game
- 1990-07-24
- Awards
- 5× All-Star · MVP · 11× Gold Glove · 2× Silver Slugger
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,088 | 7,370 | 1,124 | 2,182 | 426 | 60 | 162 | 1,071 | 98 | 1,070 | 1,012 | .296 | .384 | .436 | .821 | 25,249 |
Career AVG .296 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — +14.2% above league average.
Career OBP .384 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — +18.5% above league average.
Career SLG .436 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — +13.2% above league average.
Career OPS .821 vs. league average .710 across their career seasons — +15.6% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | SLN | NL | 14 | 34 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 8 | .294 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1975 | SLN | NL | 64 | 188 | 20 | 47 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 26 | .250 | .257 (-3%) | .327 (-6%) | .374 (-3%) | .701 (-4%) | -155.7 |
| 1976 | SLN | NL | 129 | 374 | 54 | 108 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 4 | 49 | 53 | .289 | .255 (+13%) | .320 (+17%) | .360 (+19%) | .681 (+18%) | 1380.2 |
| 1977 | SLN | NL | 161 | 560 | 90 | 163 | 41 | 4 | 15 | 91 | 7 | 79 | 88 | .291 | .264 (+10%) | .329 (+15%) | .401 (+14%) | .730 (+15%) | 1889.5 |
| 1978 | SLN | NL | 159 | 542 | 90 | 138 | 32 | 4 | 11 | 64 | 13 | 82 | 68 | .255 | .257 (-1%) | .323 (+9%) | .378 (+3%) | .702 (+5%) | 766.4 |
| 1979 | SLN | NL | 161 | 610 | 116 | 210 | 48 | 11 | 11 | 105 | 11 | 80 | 78 | .344 | .265 (+30%) | .329 (+26%) | .397 (+29%) | .727 (+28%) | 3666.3 |
| 1980 | SLN | NL | 159 | 595 | 111 | 191 | 39 | 8 | 16 | 99 | 14 | 86 | 73 | .321 | .264 (+21%) | .326 (+25%) | .387 (+27%) | .714 (+26%) | 3451.4 |
| 1981 | SLN | NL | 103 | 376 | 65 | 115 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 48 | 12 | 61 | 45 | .306 | .255 (+20%) | .320 (+25%) | .368 (+26%) | .688 (+25%) | 1910.7 |
| 1982 | SLN | NL | 160 | 579 | 79 | 173 | 33 | 6 | 7 | 94 | 19 | 100 | 67 | .299 | .261 (+14%) | .324 (+22%) | .388 (+6%) | .712 (+14%) | 1979.3 |
| 1983 | SLN | NL | 55 | 218 | 34 | 62 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 24 | 30 | .284 | .260 (+9%) | .324 (+8%) | .389 (+11%) | .714 (+10%) | 355.7 |
| 1983 | NYN | NL | 95 | 320 | 43 | 98 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 37 | 8 | 64 | 42 | .306 | .260 (+17%) | .324 (+30%) | .389 (+12%) | .714 (+20%) | 355.7 |
| 1984 | NYN | NL | 154 | 550 | 83 | 171 | 31 | 0 | 15 | 94 | 2 | 97 | 89 | .311 | .259 (+20%) | .322 (+27%) | .384 (+17%) | .707 (+21%) | 2786.8 |
| 1985 | NYN | NL | 158 | 593 | 87 | 183 | 34 | 4 | 10 | 91 | 3 | 77 | 59 | .309 | .257 (+20%) | .323 (+19%) | .390 (+10%) | .714 (+14%) | 1876.4 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | 149 | 551 | 94 | 171 | 34 | 1 | 13 | 83 | 2 | 94 | 69 | .310 | .257 (+20%) | .325 (+27%) | .395 (+13%) | .720 (+19%) | 2594.0 |
| 1987 | NYN | NL | 154 | 587 | 87 | 170 | 28 | 2 | 18 | 89 | 0 | 81 | 104 | .290 | .262 (+10%) | .331 (+14%) | .415 (+5%) | .746 (+9%) | 1355.8 |
| 1988 | NYN | NL | 95 | 348 | 43 | 96 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 55 | 2 | 31 | 57 | .276 | .254 (+9%) | .317 (+5%) | .377 (+10%) | .695 (+8%) | 482.5 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | 75 | 215 | 18 | 50 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 27 | 39 | .233 | .254 (-8%) | .319 (+1%) | .375 (-13%) | .694 (-7%) | -141.2 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | 43 | 130 | 7 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 17 | .200 | .257 (-22%) | .324 (-13%) | .385 (-38%) | .710 (-27%) | -501.5 |
| Career · 18 seasons | 2,088 | 7,370 | 1,124 | 2,182 | 426 | 60 | 162 | 1,071 | 98 | 1,070 | 1,012 | .296 | — | — | — | — | 24,052 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2088 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1040 | 3556 | 542 | 1063 | 74 | 508 | .299 |
| Away | 1048 | 3814 | 582 | 1119 | 88 | 563 | .293 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-07-24 | CLE | CHW | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990-07-20 | CLE | LAA | L | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990-07-18 | CLE | OAK | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990-07-17 | CLE | OAK | W | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1990-07-16 | CLE | OAK | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990-07-15 | CLE | SEA | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990-07-12 | CLE | SEA | W | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990-06-17 | CLE | MIL | W | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990-05-26 | CLE | OAK | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990-05-25 | CLE | OAK | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2014 | 1942 | 17909 | 1682 | 115 | 1654 |
| OF | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | SLN | 1B | 9 | 8 | 70 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 1975 | SLN | 1B | 56 | 48 | 469 | 36 | 2 | 34 |
| 1976 | SLN | 1B | 110 | 97 | 862 | 107 | 10 | 87 |
| 1977 | SLN | 1B | 158 | 150 | 1453 | 106 | 12 | 146 |
| 1978 | SLN | 1B | 158 | 148 | 1436 | 96 | 10 | 124 |
| 1979 | SLN | 1B | 160 | 156 | 1489 | 146 | 8 | 145 |
| 1980 | SLN | 1B | 157 | 157 | 1572 | 115 | 9 | 146 |
| 1981 | SLN | 1B | 98 | 97 | 1054 | 86 | 3 | 99 |
| 1981 | SLN | OF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | SLN | 1B | 158 | 153 | 1586 | 135 | 11 | 140 |
| 1982 | SLN | OF | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | SLN | 1B | 54 | 53 | 581 | 51 | 6 | 62 |
| 1983 | NYN | 1B | 90 | 89 | 837 | 96 | 7 | 85 |
| 1984 | NYN | 1B | 153 | 152 | 1214 | 142 | 8 | 127 |
| 1985 | NYN | 1B | 157 | 152 | 1310 | 139 | 4 | 113 |
| 1986 | NYN | 1B | 149 | 146 | 1199 | 149 | 5 | 115 |
| 1987 | NYN | 1B | 154 | 151 | 1298 | 149 | 10 | 110 |
| 1988 | NYN | 1B | 93 | 91 | 734 | 77 | 2 | 63 |
| 1989 | NYN | 1B | 58 | 55 | 405 | 31 | 4 | 22 |
| 1990 | CLE | 1B | 42 | 39 | 340 | 20 | 2 | 28 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2012 |
| Left Field | 5 |
| Right Field | 2 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1988 | Player of the Week | Week of 1988-04-29 |
| 1987 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1986 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1986 | Player of the Week | Week of 1986-08-08 |
| 1986 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1985 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1985 | Player of the Month | July |
| 1985 | Player of the Week | Week of 1985-07-12 |
| 1985 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1984 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1984 | Silver Slugger | 1B |
| 1984 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1983 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1982 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1982 | Player of the Week | Week of 1982-04-16 |
| 1981 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1980 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1980 | Silver Slugger | 1B |
| 1980 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1979 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1979 | Player of the Month | August |
| 1979 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1979 | TSN Player of the Year | |
| 1978 | Gold Glove | 1B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | CLE | AL | $1,750,000 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | $1,750,000 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | $2,000,000 |
| 1988 | NYN | NL | $1,850,000 |
| 1987 | NYN | NL | $1,800,000 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | $1,650,000 |
| 1985 | NYN | NL | $1,100,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $11,900,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 179.0 | 336 | 2 |
| 1985 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 61.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 195.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1983 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1982 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1981 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 9.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1980 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 29.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 216.0 | 336 | 10 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Keith Hernandez (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez: the record in brief
According to the bio, Keith Hernandez debuted on August 30, 1974 and played a final game on July 24, 1990. Club by club, the record runs the St. Louis Cardinals (1974 to 1983), the New York Mets (1983 through 1989), and the Cleveland Indians (1990). Hernandez played primarily as a first baseman and batted and threw left-handed. The bio adds a birth date on October 20, 1953, in San Francisco, CA, USA and a listed size of 6 feet, 0 inches and 180 pounds.
Hernandez finished with 2,182 hits from 7,370 at bats in 2,088 games, which works out to .296, adding 162 homers, 1,071 runs batted in, and 98 stolen bases. Hernandez's career OPS of .821 combines a .384 on-base mark with .436 slugging. Over the seasons Hernandez played, league hitters batted .259; the .296 career figure is 14.2% above that. The OPS comparison is .821 to a league .710, 15.6% above average. The single-season home run high is 18, set in 1987.
Frequently Asked Questions about Keith Hernandez
- What years did Keith Hernandez play?
- Keith Hernandez played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1990.
- Was Keith Hernandez a pitcher?
- No. Keith Hernandez was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Keith Hernandez hit?
- Keith Hernandez hit 162 career home runs with 2182 hits.
- What was Keith Hernandez's career batting average?
- Keith Hernandez batted .296 over his career, with 2,182 hits in 7,370 at bats.
- How many RBI did Keith Hernandez have?
- Keith Hernandez drove in 1,071 runs in his career.
- Did Keith Hernandez win an MVP?
- Yes. Keith Hernandez won the Most Valuable Player award 1 time.