Former NL MVP Keith Hernandez makes the move from the Gateway City to the Big Apple, where he would be a major part of a powerful Mets team that was dominant in the mid-1980s
On June 15, 1983, the New York Mets traded pitchers Rick Ownbey and Neil Allen to the St. Louis Cardinals for first baseman Keith Hernandez. The former batting champion and NL MVP would become the metroplis’ mustachioed marvel, being named team captain and leading his troops to a World Series title in 1986. Throughout his entire career, he dominated defensively, winning 11 consecutive Gold Gloves (1978-1988) at first base, an MLB record.
Yet Hernandez’s impact on the Mets extended far beyond awards and statistics. Arriving in New York during a difficult rebuilding period, he immediately brought credibility, professionalism, and a winning mentality to a young clubhouse.
Hernandez batted .297 during his seven seasons with the Mets, earned five All-Star selections in New York, and finished in the top 10 of National League MVP voting four times while wearing orange and blue. More than four decades later, the trade remains one of the most influential transactions in franchise history, providing the cornerstone veteran who helped restore the Mets to prominence and ultimately deliver their second World Series championship.
