Get to know Keith
Biography
Keith Hernandez joined SNY in 2006 and is the network's Mets game analyst - working over 100 telecasts each season. Hernandez also contributes to SNY's Mets pre- and post game shows and to www.sny.tv. Prior to joining SNY, Hernandez served as a Mets game analyst for MSG Networks since 2001. In addition to his role on Mets telecasts at MSG, Hernandez also served as a baseball analyst for the network's Major League Baseball post-season playoff coverage, including the Subway World Series between the Yankees and Mets.
Hernandez's Major League Baseball career began in 1974 with the St. Louis Cardinals where he quickly rose to the upper echelon in the League. In 1979, his .344 batting average led the majors and he shared National League MVP honors with Willie Stargell. He joined the New York Mets in 1983 and was instrumental in turning the team around, becoming a cornerstone of the 1986 World Series Championship squad. In addition to being named the first captain in Mets history, Hernandez earned a record 11 consecutive Gold Glove awards from 1978-1988 as a first baseman, batted over .300 in six different seasons, and finished with a lifetime .296 batting average and a career on-base percentage of .384. His career spanned 17 seasons, ending in 1990 with the Cleveland Indians.
Hernandez was born in San Francisco, CA. Keith currently resides in Jupiter, Fla.
Q&A with Keith
What movie deserves a sequel?
The Great Escape
What is your most common expression or saying?
Between a rock and a hard spot
If you could be an expert on one form of dance, what would it be?
Waltz
What one thing have you surprisingly never done before?
don't know
If you could set your alarm clock for an ideal time, what would that time be?
9 am
What fruit do you always pick around in a fruit salad
Kiwi
If you could have a remote control for anything, what would you choose?
home entertainment center
What do you not eat enough of?
vegetables
Where can you find the best hamburger?
Smith & Wollensky's
What healthy habit are you most proud of?
Giving up cigarettes
When is it ok to bend the rules?
NEVER. ALWAYS PLAY BY THE RULES
On what tv-game show would you like to be a contestant?
JEOPARDY
What is your favorite time of the day?
SUNSET
I've never been able to _____
BAT RIGHT-HANDED
What do you bring most to a friendship?
LOYALTY
Rap music makes me want to? ______
TAKE AN ASPIRIN
Who is your favorite comedian?
GEORGE CARLIN
What one thing can you draw very well?
HANDS & HORSES
Use one adjective to describe the game of baseball ___________
STRATEGIC
Who should be this years person of the year?
NOBODY IN WASHINGTON D.C.
What one thing did you never get as a child?
"Many times my dad refused to take us into the ice cream store for a double-scoop w/chocolate dip."
Rollerblading is __________
"Good exercise."
What is the strongest bond u have with an inanimate object?
"C271 Width 34.5"/32.5 oz. (My baseball bat I used in my playing days)"
If you could perform one heroic act, what would it be?
"Don't know. It would totally spontaneous."
What book do you frequently recommend to people?
"Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo."
What is the gift that keeps on giving?
"Just For Men television commercials."
If you picked up a guitar right now, what would you play?
"Rhythm section from Creedence Clearwater's, Oh Susie Q"
Have you ever been on Sesame Street?
"Check me out singing Put down the Duckie, at 1:48"
What is the best thing about your mom?
"Her loving qualities, she was not a mean-spirited person."
I'm always amused when I see people _______
"Picking their noses."
What favor should never be asked of someone?
"Never ask to borrow money from a friend."
Growing up, what was your favorite TV show?
"Maverick"
Saturday or Sunday? Why?
"Saturday, no school"
On a scale of 1-10, how hard of a worker are you?
"7"
What one Holiday tradition would you never want to give up?
"none"
If the statement, 'You are what you eat' was true, you would be a _______.
"carnivore."
If you could read the private diary of any person in the world, whose would it be?
"Jesus."
Is it easier to forgive or to forget?
"forget."
Which of the seven dwarfs personifies you best – Dopey, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy, or Doc?
"Doc."
Watermelon or Cantaloupe?
"watermelon."
If you could rid the earth of 3 creatures, which 3 would you dispose of?
tics, cockroaches & no one else.
How many times a day do you check your email?
"Once or Twice."
Do you read the blogs?
"No."
What do you do for exercise?
Stationary bike."
Other than Shea, which ballpark is your favorite? Why?
"Wrigley & Dodger Stadiums & old Jack Murphy ...I hit great in them."
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
"Nothing..my life is an open book, unfortunately ."
Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
"Never given it much thought....don't know?"
What are you most proud of?
"Lots of things."
Who has impacted you most in your career ?
"Lou Brock & Ted Robinson ."
How many licks does it take to get to the middle of a Tootsie pop?
"A Multitude!"
Are you named after anyone? If so- who?
"No."
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
"Horribly timid auto drivers."
Day or Night? Why?
"Day -because of sunshine."
East or West? Why?
"West- because it's the best and I am from the West Coast."
Odd or Even? Why?
"Odd -because they are lucky numbers."
Lucy or Ethel? Why?
"Lucy- because I LOVE LUCY."
Sonny or Cher? Why?
"Sonny -because I don't like Cher."
Batman or Robin? Why?
"Batman - because Robin is a wimp"
Open or Close? Why?
"Open- because there are infinitely more opportunities."
Straight or Crooked? Why?
"Straight -because it's the only way to do things."
Right or Left? Why?
"Left -because I am a lefty."
Buy or Sell? Why?
"Buy -because you are attaining something you desire."
What was the happiest day of your life?
" the days my children were born"
Most embarrassing moment of your life?
"You don’t want to know... Too much information."
If you knew the world would end in a day- what would you do?
"Be with my entire family."
Do you have any Superstitions now?Did you as a player? If so, what?
"Not anymore. Playing? Had a very precise routine in the on deck circle."
One word to describe Gary?
"Quirky"
One word to describe Ron?
"Complex"
One word to describe yourself?
"Impulsive"
One word to describe the Gary, Keith and Ron team?
"Versatile"
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
"Relaxing and enjoying life with my wife"
If you were not baseball player what would you have done?
"Don't know what I would have done. I do know one thing, I wouldn't have gone into sales."
What do you do during the off season?
"Loaf, read"
Who were your heroes growing up?
"Mickey Mantle, Green Lantern"
What is your favorite food?
"Country French "
Do you have a favorite book?
"Anything Victor Hugo wrote (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, Toilers of the Sea). Also, Little Big Man, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Catch 22 (until the last 50 pages), and Moby Dick, Heart of Darkness, Poe’s Short Stories, LeCarre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, and Spy.; The and the list goes on & on & on."
Do you have a favorite actor?
"Burt Lancaster (Elmer Gantry), Marlon Brando (everything), Karl Malden (great performance in Baby Doll), Eli Wallach (The Good, The Bad & the Ugly, Lord Jim, The Misfits), Edwin G. Robinson, Rod Tayor, Michael Caine (The Ipcress File), Clark Gable (The Misfits), Shirley Mac Laine (everything), Carol Baker (Baby Doll)."
Favorite author?
"Victor Hugo, Joseph Conrad, John LeCarre"
How do you get ready for the baseball season?
"I don’t do much to get ready for the season other than monitor trades, free agents etc."
How do you prepare for each game?
"I prepare my scorecard with all the essential stats that are important to me, talk to players, managers... etc".
Favorite thing to do while on the road?
"Pass the time as quickly as possible"
Any hobbies?
"Reading, constructing plastic models"
Do you watch the games if you have a day off during the season?
"TIVO BABY !!!!!"
Do you watch baseball games other than the Mets games?
"Sometimes, probably should do it more but I have better things to do with my off time."
What are your favorite sports teams i.e. football, basketball, etc. ?
"College football "
Why did you choose Cobble Hill Health Center?
"My mother died of Alzheimer's at 59 years of age and it was a blessing...I have worked raising funds for Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn for over 15 years. They named the day care center after my mother, Jacquelyn. They are a non-profit organization that provides terrific care for the elderly with dementia, Alzheimer's and other related mental diseases and disorders. They target lower income families who do not have the financial wherewithal to get this kind of quality care for their loved ones. They are a terrific and dedicated group of people."
Charity website: Cobble Hill Health Center Website.
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