I'm Keith Hernandez

Keith Hernandez recounts his early life and baseball career through 1980, with a focus on his development as a player in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. The narrative follows his path from high school baseball in California through his minor league experiences and into his first several major league seasons. The book examines the technical aspects of playing first base and hitting at a professional level. Hernandez breaks down the mental and physical components that helped him become a top defensive player and reliable batter during his rise through baseball's ranks. The memoir details Hernandez's relationships with coaches, teammates, and family members who influenced his baseball journey. His father John's role as his primary instructor and mentor receives particular attention throughout the story. This memoir explores themes of perfectionism, father-son dynamics, and the intense psychological demands of professional baseball. The book reveals how early experiences and relationships shape an athlete's approach to competition and development.

Readers report the book focuses more on Hernandez's youth and minor league years than his MLB career, which disappointed some who wanted more stories from his time with the Mets and Cardinals. Liked: - Detailed accounts of learning baseball fundamentals - Stories about his father's influence and training - Insights into minor league development - The writing style and humor - Behind-the-scenes tales from the 1970s baseball era Disliked: - Limited coverage of major league career - Minimal discussion of post-playing career - Abrupt ending - Some found early chapters slow Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (486 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (339 ratings) Notable Reader Comments: "Great for baseball purists interested in player development" - Amazon reviewer "Expected more Mets stories, got mostly minor league memories" - Goodreads reviewer "His personality comes through in the writing" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

Ball Four by Jim Bouton A raw, tell-all memoir of baseball in the 1960s from a former Yankees pitcher who broke the clubhouse code of silence.

The Bad Guys Won by Jeff Pearlman The inside story of the 1986 Mets chronicles the same era and team that Hernandez played for, with personal accounts from players and staff.

The Captain by David Wright and Anthony DiComo A first-person account from another Mets icon details the pressures and privileges of being a franchise cornerstone in New York.

The Yankee Years by Tom Verducci, Joe Torre A manager's perspective of baseball in New York reveals the behind-the-scenes dynamics of a professional clubhouse.

The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle by Jane Leavy A biography that mixes baseball excellence with personal struggle presents the human side of a baseball legend through extensive interviews and research.

🌟 During the writing of this memoir, Keith Hernandez discovered that his great-grandfather had escaped execution in Spain and fled to California during the Spanish Inquisition ⚾ The book's title is a reference to a famous 1992 Seinfeld episode in which Hernandez guest-starred as himself, playing Jerry's friend and Elaine's love interest 📚 Hernandez wrote much of the book longhand, eschewing modern technology, and credits his father John's emphasis on penmanship during his childhood 🏆 While the book covers his baseball career, Hernandez devotes significant space to his childhood cat Hadrian, showing a softer side to the tough baseball star 🎯 The memoir reveals that Hernandez nearly quit baseball in the minor leagues after batting .190 in his first professional season, before his father convinced him to stick with it