He was no screwball, but he threw a mean one!

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It was on this day in 1984 that Guillermo “Willie” Hernández won the American League Cy Young Award. He would also win the American Leagues MVP award that year. He is among just 11 pitchers to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same year. He was just one of many players who were a part of the Detroit Tigers magical season.

Hernández put up some great numbers that season. He had a 9-3 record and 32 saves in 33 chances in 1984, with a 1.92 ERA over 80 games and 140⅓ innings. He would go on to have an excellent postseason and got the final out of the clinching Game 5 of the ’84  World Series by coaxing a short fly ball to left field from Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, setting off a celebration. 

Willie became only the third player to win MVP honors, the Cy Young Award and World Series in the same season, joining Sandy Koufax (1963) and (Fellow Detroit Tiger) Denny McLain (1968).

Willie was so fun to watch. I was always fascinated watching his screwball in slow motion during the games. What a pitch!!

Hernández was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He sadly passed away on November 20, 2023 at age 69.

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Published by nostalgicitalian

I'm just a guy who likes the classics. I love Old Time Radio Shows. I love Classic TV. I love Classic Movies. I love songs from the "Great American Songbook". I dig songs from the first decade of Rock and Roll. Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to newer things. My musical taste ranges from Classical to Classic Rock and Country to Rap. I love a good book and am always looking for something to read. I tend to lean toward historical fiction, biographies, mysteries, and more. I have always believed that our past (and the things we've experienced in it) make us who we are today. That being said, after reading through some old My Space blogs (yeah, that's about how long it's been since I blogged regularly), I decided that I should once again write. Welcome to my blog. I hope you find it interesting, thought provoking, and entertaining in some way. CONTACT ME AT - nostalgicitalian@yahoo.com

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8 thoughts on “He was no screwball, but he threw a mean one!”

    2. Thanks both of you! Trey was incredibly highly rated as a prospect through the summer, but I didn’t see him making the team this season…let alone striking out 12 with no walks in a World Series game!

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  2. I remember him! Good pitcher, though I don’t recall that he won the Cy Young. That Detroit team was more than impressive that year…didn’t they start 35-5 or so? Shame he passed away already.

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