Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez: Former New York Yankees Postseason Hero to Retire
August 17, 2011 · Rich Stowe · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Former New York Yankees postseason hero, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, is going to finally officially retire, according to a tweet by Andy Martino of the New York Daily News last night.
El Duque last pitched in the MLB back in 2007, but was in the minor leagues for the Washington Nationals in 2010.
Hernandez made his mark in MLB when he joined the Yankees after his defection from Cuba in 1998. During his rookie season, he went 12-4 with a 3.13 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and a 142 ERA+.
While his regular season stats for his career aren’t that impressive (90-65, 4.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 110 ERA+), it was in the postseason when he really shined. In 15 postseason series, he went 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched.
His best postseason series was the 1999 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox in which he won the MVP going 1-0 in two games started, with a 1.80 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched.
Hernandez was a member of four World Series winning teams (1998, 1999 and 2000 with the Yankees and 2005 with the Chicago White Sox). In five World Series, he started four games, and had a record of 2-1 with an ERA of 2.20, a WHIP of 1.25 and 36 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched.
While no one will ever consider El Duque for the Hall of Fame, he will always hold a special place in the hearts of New York Yankees fans.
I know I join other Yankees fans in wishing nothing but the best for El Duque in whatever he now chooses to do in his life.
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