Keith Hernandez Net Worth

What is Keith Hernandez's Net Worth and Salary?

Keith Hernandez is a retired American professional baseball player who has a net worth of $10 million. Keith Hernandez was one of baseball's premier first basemen during the 1970s and 1980s. A gifted defender, he won 11 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1978-1988), the most ever for a first baseman. His defensive prowess was complemented by a strong bat, as he maintained a .296 career batting average across 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Cleveland Indians.

Hernandez's finest season came in 1979 when he won the National League MVP award (shared with Willie Stargell) while leading the league with a .344 batting average. He was a key member of two World Series championship teams—the 1982 Cardinals and the iconic 1986 Mets.

A five-time All-Star, Hernandez was known for his exceptional plate discipline and ability to hit for average rather than power. He finished his career with 2,182 hits, 162 home runs, and 1,071 RBIs. His .386 career on-base percentage showcases his patient approach at the plate.

Following his playing career, Hernandez transitioned to broadcasting, becoming a beloved color commentator for Mets games on SNY. He is also a studio analyst for MLB on Fox. His baseball acumen, combined with his distinctive personality, has made him a fan favorite in his post-playing career.

Career Earnings

During his baseball career, Keith Hernandez earned around $17 million in salary alone. After adjusting for inflation, that's the same as around $40 million in today's dollars.

Seinfeld Royalties

In 1992, Keith had a memorable two-episode arc on the sitcom "Seinfeld." Technically, the one-hour episode, which was titled "The Boyfriend," originally aired in two parts, in series episodes #34 and #35. On DVD and streaming the episode airs as one. In syndication, it airs as two. The storyline hilariously imagines a "bromance" between Keith and Jerry, culminating in an infamous JFK-style parody involving a "second spitter" and a confrontation over whether Hernandez was the one who "spit on" Kramer and Newman after a Mets game.

The episode is widely regarded as one of the best in the series, and in later interviews, Jerry Seinfeld himself named it his personal favorite. The performance showed off Hernandez's unexpected comic timing and self-awareness, earning him widespread praise and introducing him to a broader pop culture audience outside of sports.

The role paid off long after it aired. In 2018, Hernandez posted a photo on Twitter of a royalty check he received for just $3.12, captioning it with amusement. But in interviews, he revealed that he still earns approximately $3,000 per year from syndication royalties tied to that single Seinfeld appearance. Considering the show has aired in more than 60 countries and remains one of the most lucrative sitcoms in syndication history, Hernandez's small but steady checks have become a fun footnote to both his baseball and television legacy.

He even reprised the role in Seinfeld's 1998 series finale, appearing as a character witness in the courtroom scene alongside other recurring guests, solidifying his place as one of the show's most memorable guest stars.

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Early Life

Keith Hernandez was born on October 20th, 1953, in San Francisco, California. Due to his surname, many people incorrectly assume that Keith is Mexican. In actual fact, he is of Castillan Spanish and British heritage. Raised in Pacifica and Millbrae, Keith attended two high schools during his youth and excelled athletically in both institutions. He quickly proved his potential as a future baseball star, and he played alongside future MLB pitcher Bob McClure.

Despite his potential, Keith was prone to what his coaches described as "attitude problems." A single argument with a coach led to him refusing to play for his entire senior year, but he was able to continue his baseball career without issue after graduating. He attended the College of San Mateo and played for the school team before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Career

After being drafted as a youngster by the Cardinals in 1971, Keith made his professional debut in the minor leagues with the Tulsa Oilers. While playing for this Cardinals Affiliate, he posted a .333 batting average with five home runs. His batting average steadily increased until he made his major league debut against the San Francisco Giants in 1974. It was clear that Hernandez would play a major role in the team's future.

In 1975, he played partly for the Tulsa Oilers and partly for the Cardinals. Although his batting average improved over the years, his defensive capabilities were always his best strength. He won his first of many Golden Gloves in 1978. That being said, his batting average rose to an impressive .344 in 1979, a feat that saw him lead the league. That year, he shared the MVP award with Willie Stargel. It was the first and only time in history that two players had received the exact same number of points from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Hernandez never let his batting average slip below .300 from that point onwards, and he helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 1982. Unfortunately, his time at St. Louis would come to a close not long afterward. Keith and the management staff had multiple arguments over the years, with manager Whitey Herzog even calling referring to him as a "cancer" to the rest of the team. Hernandez later admitted that his excessive cocaine use was probably the reason for his eventual dismissal, and he even stated that he had played a game while under the influence of the drug.

(Photo by: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

After being traded to the Mets, Keith allegedly stopped using cocaine. The team was in dire straits when he arrived, and he pledged to prove his critics wrong and achieve great things in New York. He eventually established himself as team captain and led several young players towards greater heights. It was during his time with the Mets that he consolidated his reputation as the greatest first baseman that ever lived. Teams were almost instantly demoralized when playing against the Mets, especially due to Keith's insane ability to defend against bunts.

However, in 1985, Hernandez's reputation for cocaine abuse caught up with him. After a drug dealer was tried in Pittsburgh, Keith was among seven players who had been implicated in the use and distribution of cocaine. Hernandez was subsequently suspended for an entire season, but the sentence was commuted after he agreed to donate ten percent of his salary to drug abuse programs. Keith later stated that he never distributed cocaine, and he only ever used it recreationally.

In 1986, Hernandez claimed his second World Series title alongside the Mets. In 1988, he won his last Golden Glove award. That year, the Mets narrowly missed out on claiming another World Series title, and it was clear that Keith's career was coming to a close. His batting average fell considerably over the next few years, and his contract was not extended by the Mets in 1989. He ended his career with a single season for the Cleveland Indians, retiring after an injury-ridden season in 1990.

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After Baseball

Following his retirement in 1990, Keith Hernandez transitioned into a remarkably successful second act as a broadcaster, author, and pop culture personality. In 2006, he joined the New York Mets' broadcast booth on SportsNet New York (SNY), teaming up with Gary Cohen and Ron Darling. The trio quickly became one of the most respected and beloved commentary teams in Major League Baseball, known for their sharp analysis, deep baseball knowledge, and often hilarious tangents on everything from Civil War history to proper home gardening techniques. Hernandez has won multiple New York Emmy Awards for his work and remains a fixture in the booth to this day.

Hernandez also authored two well-received books. His 1994 title, "Pure Baseball: Pitch by Pitch for the Advanced Fan," is considered a classic among baseball purists for its detailed analysis of in-game strategy. In 2018, he published a memoir titled "I'm Keith Hernandez," which blended recollections of his playing days with reflections on fame, broadcasting, and life after baseball.

Outside of his iconic "Seinfeld" cameo, Keith has appeared in shows like "Law & Order," and "Ghostwriter." He also appeared in movies such as "The Scout" and "The Yards."

In 2022, the New York Mets retired Hernandez's No. 17 jersey, cementing his legacy not just as a championship-caliber player but as a defining figure in franchise history. Though never inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he is widely regarded as one of the most underrated first basemen of all time, with fans and analysts frequently citing his elite defense and leadership as worthy of Cooperstown consideration.

Real Estate

Keith Hernandez has made several notable real estate investments over the years. In 1985, during his tenure with the New York Mets, he purchased a 2,000-square-foot apartment on the 28th floor at 255 East 49th Street in Manhattan for $480,500. His then-wife, Kai Thompson, acquired the adjacent unit in 2002 for $515,000. The combined property was listed in 2006 for $2.295 million and ultimately sold for $2.1 million.

In 1998, Hernandez bought a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Southampton, New York, for $330,000. He sold this property in 2003 for $665,000. He currently resides in Sag Harbor, New York, where he enjoys a quieter lifestyle away from the city. His Sag Harbor home has been featured in lifestyle publications, highlighting his love for antiques, books, and baseball memorabilia.

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