Legendary Member of the Detroit Tigers Passes Away at Age of 69

Former Detroit Tigers ace reliever and World Series champion Willie Hernandez passed away at the age of 69 because of complications from heart issues. He helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series.

The Detroit Tigers have lost a beloved member of the family: Former World Series champion and ace relief pitcher Willie Hernandez has passed away at the age of 69.

A Puerto Rican newspaper reports that it was because of heart issues, which he'd been dealing with for several years.

Hernandez helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series when he put together a sensational year out of the bullpen. He went 9-3 that year with a 1.92 ERA and led baseball in appearances (80) and games finished (68). He registered 32 saves in 140.1 innings, striking out 112 batters.

For his efforts that year, he was named an All-Star, the Cy Young winner and the MVP.

Per MLBTradeRumors:

Hernandez is one of just 10 pitchers to ever capture both a Cy Young Award and an MVP in the same season — and one of just three relievers to accomplish that feat (joining Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley)...He’d go on to add another 9 1/3 innings of 1.93 ERA ball in the postseason, including a pair of saves during a World Series that the Tigers won over the Padres.

All in all, he was a three-time All-Star who went 70-63 lifetime with a 3.38 ERA. He appeared in 774 games, getting 147 saves. He pitched for the Cubs, Phillies and Tigers, wrapping up his career in 1989 at just the age of 34.

While nothing has been announced yet, the Tigers will most assuredly do something to honor him in the 2024 season.

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