During his impressive Major League Baseball career, Keith Hernandez earned 11 Gold Gloves while manning first base for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. That’s a fact he just happened to bring up on Saturday as a subtle reminder to current Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
Keith Hernandez reminded New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso about the hardware he earned during his career
Hernandez, now a broadcaster with SNY covering the New York Mets, saw a golden opportunity to bring up his collection of Gold Gloves during a moment of Saturday’s game between the Mets and Miami Marlins. The player at the expense of the remark was Pete Alonso, who goes by the nickname of “Polar Bear,” a moniker that he wears on his first baseman’s glove.
Check out how Hernandez did a not-so-subtle reminder about the hardware he won during his career versus Alonso, who is a two-time Home Run Derby champion but has not yet earned a Gold Glove in his career.
Gary on Pete's glove: "It says 'polar bear' on the thumb"
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 18, 2022
Keith: "It said 'gold glove' on mine" 😂 pic.twitter.com/rUsToogtHX
Hernandez has never been one to back away from talking about his own accomplishments, which made him such a perfect guest star on a now-famous “Seinfeld” episode.
A second-round pick of the Mets in the 2016 MLB draft, Alonso made his debut with the Mets on March 28, 2019, and has been a fixture in the lineup ever since, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors that season after leading all of baseball with 53 home runs.
This season, Alonso is once again on a home run tear, pacing the National League with 19 homers as the Mets are leading the NL East.
Will the “Polar Bear” eventually add a “Gold Glove” to his first baseman’s mitt? Even if he does, Hernandez (who has an interesting Hall of Fame case) is likely to remind him he has a long way to go to catch his total.