Guillermo Hernández Villanueva (born November 14, 1954) is a Puerto Rican former baseball relief pitcher. He won both the American League Cy Young Award and the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1984 after leading the Detroit Tigers to the World Series championship.
Hernández was born and raised in Aguada, Puerto Rico. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1973 and played in their minor-league system as a starting pitcher from 1974 to 1976. He was acquired by the Chicago Cubs in the 1976 Rule 5 Draft and played for the Cubs, principally as a relief pitcher, from 1977 to 1983. His performance improved markedly after adding a screwball and cut fastball to his pitching repertoire. He was traded to the Phillies in May 1983, helped lead them to the National League pennant, and appeared in three games in the 1983 World Series, giving up zero hits and zero runs in three games.
In March 1984, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. As the Tigers' closer in 1984, he compiled a 9–3 win–loss record with 32 saves and a 1.92 earned run average (ERA). He helped lead the Tigers to the 1984 World Series championship and became only the third player in major-league history (following Sandy Koufax and Denny McLain) to win the Cy Young Award, MVP Award, and World Series title, all in the same season.
Hernández continued to pitch for the Tigers through the 1989 season. In 13 major-league seasons, he appeared in 744 games, 733 as a relief pitcher and 11 as a starter, and compiled a win–loss record of 70–63 with a 3.38 ERA, 788 strikeouts, and 147 saves. After his playing career ended, he returned to Puerto Rico where he operated a construction business and later owned a cattle ranch.
Early years
Hernández was born in 1954 in Aguada, Puerto Rico. He was seventh of eight children born to Dinicio, a worker in a sugar cane factory, and Dominga, a housekeeper. Hernández described them as "a poor, but happy family." He began playing baseball as a third baseman and outfielder. As a teenager, his manager asked him to pitch when one of the team's pitchers got suspended and another got hurt. Hernández threw a seven-inning shutout. Hernández recalled in 1984 that he thereafter developed a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and an 85-mile-per-hour breaking ball, played with the Puerto Rico national team, and won a game against the United States team – the first time the Puerto Rico team had beaten the United States. He also played for a time with the Tiburones de Aguadilla.
Professional baseball
Minor leagues
Hernández signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1973. He spent three years in the Phillies' minor-league system where he was used principally as a starting pitcher. In 1974, he played for the Phillies' Single-A Spartanburg team in the Western Carolinas League. He appeared in 16 games, all as a starter, and compiled an 11–11 win–loss record with a 2.75 earned run average (ERA) and 13 complete games. He struck out 179 batters in 190 innings pitched.
He was promoted in 1975 to the Double-A Reading Phillies of the Eastern League. Continuing as a starter, he compiled an 8–2 record with a 2.97 ERA. Halfway through the 1975 season, he was promoted again to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the American Association. He compiled a 6–4 record with a 3.27 ERA at Toledo.
In 1976, he continued as a starting pitcher for the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association. He appeared in 25 games (23 as a starter) and compiled an 8–9 record with a 4.53 ERA and 88 strikeouts.
Chicago Cubs
Hernández was selected by the Chicago Cubs from the Phillies in the 1976 Rule 5 Draft. The Cubs converted him into a relief pitcher. He made his major-league debut with the Cubs on April 9, 1977, giving up one hit and no runs in innings. During his rookie season, he appeared in 67 games (110 innings pitched), all but one as a relief pitcher. He compiled an 8–7 win-loss record with a 3.03 ERA and 78 strikeouts. Hernández made the minimum $19,000 salary when he joined the Cubs.
In 1978, he appeared in 54 games ( innings pitched), all as a relief pitcher. He compiled an 8–2 record with a 3.77 ERA and 38 strikeouts. His ERA jumped to 5.01 in 1979, as he appeared in 51 games, including two games as a starter, and compiled a 4–4 record with zero saves. He played in the shadow of Chicago closer Bruce Sutter during these years.