On June 15 1983 — In one of the worst trades in franchise history, the St. Louis Cardinals send first baseman Keith Hernandez to the New York Mets in exchange for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. The deal is motivated by Hernandez’s penchant for cocaine, which he will overcome in New York.
Hernandez had submitted a list of 6 teams he could veto a trade to and he thought the Mets were on it but they weren’t.
“If they don’t want me here, I don’t want to be where a team doesn’t want me. I’ll go anyway.”
The righties will compile a 21-22 record for the Redbirds, and the Gold Glove first baseman will spend seven seasons in New York, batting .297, playing an instrumental role in the club’s World Championship in 1986.
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