Willie Hernández, a former Detroit Tigers pitcher who helped the team win the 1984 World Series, died at the age of 69, the team announced Tuesday. During the 1984 MLB season, Hernández also won the American League Cy Young Award and MVP, making him one of only three players to ever win the World Series, Cy Young Award, and MVP in the same season. (AP Photographer)
Guillermo “Willie” Hernández, a former Detroit Tigers pitcher and World Series champion, died on Tuesday, the team announced. He was 69.
There was no mention of a cause of death.
“The Tigers are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Willie Hernández,” the Tigers announced on X. “Our thoughts are with the Hernández family, his friends, and teammates.”
Hernández, a southpaw relief pitcher, spent 13 seasons in Major League Baseball. He pitched in the World Series for the Tigers in 1984, winning both the American League Cy Young Award and the Most Valuable Player award. He is one of only three players in MLB history to win the World Series, Cy Young Award, and MVP all in the same season, joining Sandy Koufax in 1963 and Denny McClain in 1968.
Before joining the Tigers in 1984, the Aguada, Puerto Rico, native pitched for the Chicago Cubs, where he spent the first six-plus seasons of his MLB career, and the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched for the Tigers for the final six seasons of his career, retiring at the age of 34 after the 1989 MLB season.
Hernández finished his MLB career with a record of 70-63, a 3.38 ERA, and 788 strikeouts in 1,044.2 innings pitched over 744 games.
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