re: Didn't realize Keith Hernandez is not in the HOF

Very good player. And an important part of two championship teams.

I do remember when he was shipped out from STL to the Mets. At that time Keith got some media shots off in the direction of Whitey for the trade and that did cost Herzog for a while. Trading a great player and not getting much in return does that.

Eventually it became clear the drug use by KH was a big part of the decision. The stink of Keith badmouthing Herzog eventually reversed IMO. And the fact that Whitey kept quiet about the effect of his drug use on the decision later enhanced public perception of Herzog's character and did the reverse to Hernandez in some media circles.

Who knows how much what affected what but KH really could have used every benefit of the doubt and he didn't deserve it. Gooden and Strawberry being so much less in total than they seemed destined to become (because of drug use) might also have significantly affected Keith's HOF chances.

It cost them championships and Hernandez could hardly claim to have been either an innocent or a good influence on the their individual outcomes.