Willie Hernández Villanueva was a Puerto Rican baseball relief pitcher. He was born on November 14, 1954, in Aguada, Puerto Rico, to Dinicio, a worker in a sugar cane factory, and Dominga, a housekeeper.
Willie Hernandez Villanueva’s Biography, Wiki and Facts
| Name | Willie Hernández Villanueva |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | November 14, 1954 |
| Birthplace | Aguada, Puerto Rico |
| Death date | November 20, 2023 |
| Position | Relief pitcher |
| Bats | Left |
| Throws | Left |
| MLB debut | April 9, 1977 |
| Last MLB appearance | August 18, 1989 |
| Teams | Chicago Cubs (1977-1983), Philadelphia Phillies (1983), Detroit Tigers (1984-1989) |
| Career highlights and awards | 3× All-Star (1984-1986), World Series champion (1984), AL MVP (1984), AL Cy Young Award (1984) |
| Win-loss record | 70-63 |
| Earned run average | 3.38 |
| Strikeouts | 788 |
| Saves | 147 |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
| Social Media Accounts | Unknown |
During the 1970s and 1980s, players were underpaid; but, as a top player, Willie Hernandez Villanueva was compensated handsomely. In addition, after retiring from his professional playing career, he owned and controlled various enterprises.
Guillermo Hernandez Villanueva, a late Puerto Rican baseball relief pitcher, was born as one of Dinicio and Dominga’s eight children. He started out as a third baseman and outfielder before moving on to pitching.
Hernandez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1973 and played in the minor leagues before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1976 Rule 5 draft.
On March 24, 1984, the Phillies traded him to the Detroit Tigers, and the three-time All-Star led the Tigers to the World Series championship.
Following his victory, he received the American League Cy Young Award as well as the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
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Mr. Willie Hernandez Salary, Contract, And Net Worth
Willie Hernandez began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies. He started for the Single-A Spartanburg Phillies, Double-A Reading Reading Phillies, and Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers in the minor leagues.
Minor league players were paid a pittance in the 1970s and 1980s. According to reports, the minimum compensation for minor league athletes on major league contracts was roughly $1000 per month.
Given his exceptional throwing ability, Hernandez most certainly received a higher monthly salary, probably in the $2000-3000 area, considerably over the minimum wage.
Assuming identical rates, he should earn roughly $100,000 in his three years in the lower leagues, subtracting the $25,000 signing bonus. Later, when he joined the Cubs, his basic wage was roughly $19,000, which eventually grew to somewhere between $90,000 and $100,000.
However, his salary with the Phillies during the 1983 season remains unknown. He began playing with the Tigers the following season. He signed a four-year, $4.65 million contract extension in January 1985.
In the 1985 season, his compensation was $660,000, which increased to $960,000 in the 1986 season. His earnings significantly grew over the next few seasons, reaching $1,060,000 in 1987, $1,210,000 in 1988, and $1,310,000 in 1989.
Furthermore, after finishing his professional baseball career, he founded and ran a steel construction company in Puerto Rico. Hernandez then sold the construction company and established a cattle ranch. These enterprises also brought him some money. Before his death, Guillermo Hernandez Villanueva was reported to have a net worth of $1.5 million.
Early Life of Willie Hernandez
Willie Hernández was born on November 14, 1954, in Aguada, Puerto Rico, to Dinicio, a worker in a sugar cane factory, and Dominga, a housekeeper. He was the seventh of eight children in his family. Hernández 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.
Professional Career of Late Baseball Player Willie Hernandez
Hernández 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
Mr. Willie Hernandez At the age of 69, he died.
After a long struggle with a heart disease, the 13-year major league veteran died at the age of 69. He was said to have had heart difficulties for almost 15 years.
Hernandez nearly died in 2007 while having a pacemaker implanted in his heart after throwing the first pitch of the Tigers’ inaugural season. Following his passing, Major League Baseball and his old team, the Detroit Tigers, expressed their sympathies on Twitter.
