This week, the world of Major League Baseball is saddened by the loss of a cherished icon.
Guillermo Hernández, a thrice-selected All-Star and victor of the 1984 World Series, has passed away at 69 following an extensive struggle with a cardiac ailment, as reported by La Primera Hora, a publication in his homeland of Puerto Rico.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame confirmed the sad tidings on Tuesday and commemorated Hernández via a tweet.
Hernández, the former MVP and Cy Young honoree of the American League, had been contending with cardiac complications for roughly 15 years, as relayed in an interview with his spouse by La Primera Hora. In 2019, Hernández recounted a life-threatening moment in 2007 when a pacemaker was surgically implanted in his heart.
Embarking on his 13-year tenure in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs, Hernández spent six-and-a-half seasons there before being transferred to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983. Amassing a 3.29 ERA, he secured seven victories across 95 2/3 innings.
Subsequently, preceding the upcoming season, Hernández was transferred to the Tigers. Transitioning to the closing role, he swiftly soared to stardom, amassing 32 saves in 1984 after merely achieving 27 in his prior seven seasons in the big leagues. Complementing his feat was a 1.92 ERA, along with leading the league in games pitched and finished. He remains among a select group of 10 pitchers to clinch both a Cy Young accolade and MVP award in a sole season.
During his initial three seasons with the Tigers, Hernández was named to the All-Star roster. He remained affiliated with the squad until 1989.
