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If Keith Hernandez ever decides to stop calling New York Mets games, he’ll still have another source of income.
The team’s legendary former first baseman became the team’s broadcaster in 1999 and won several local Emmys for his skills on the mic. But after hanging up his boots, he tested his acting skills.
Hernandez was one of several New York baseball stars to appear on “Seinfeld,” playing himself in three episodes. His most famous appearance, however, came in the two-part episode, “The Boyfriend”, in 1992, when he becomes a love interest for Elaine despite Kramer and Newman’s grudge against him following a spitting incident on June 14, 1987.
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Keith Hernandez and Jerry Seinfeld at Shea Stadium in New York, New York. (Stephen Lovekin/WireImage)
The episode gave rise to Hernandez’s famous line: “My name is Keith Hernandez.” Two documentaries about him even used this phrase for the title.
Due to the massive success of the episode, Hernandez is still receiving some nice residuals.
“It varies, but I can tell you that on an annual basis, I still make almost $5,000. It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Hernandez told the “SI Multimedia Podcast.” “Remember one thing: I was the guest star.”
Ron Darling, Gary Cohen, Jerry Seinfeld and Keith Hernandez pose as Jerry Seinfeld Celebrate Seinfeld on Netflix at Citi Field on September 29, 2021 in New York. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)
RANGERS PITCHER LEARNS HE MADE OPENING DAY ROSTER DURING GAME
Former New York Yankees outfielder Paul O’Neill also appeared in a famous episode, “The Wink”, from season 7, in which Kramer (played by Michael Richards) promised a boy in the hospital that he would get the right outfielder to hit two home runs in a game in an attempt to retrieve a birthday card for George Steinbrenner, signed by members of the Yankees, that he had sold.
O’Neill revealed in 2024 that he too still has residuals, but they are not at the same level as Hernandez’s.
“Yeah, they cost like $57.” O’Neill said while calling a Yankees game. “It’s not a big moment. But it’s a nice reminder that you were on the show. It’s pretty cool.”
Former New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez speaks to the press before his jersey retirement ceremony at Citi Field. (Wendell Cruz/USA Today Sports)
In addition to O’Neill, Yankees players Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Danny Tartabull and manager Buck Showalter also appeared in the series, while a stunt double was used for Steinbrenner who was voiced by co-creator Larry David – the real Steinbrenner filmed a scene that was never used.
