But Hernandez’s 1979 season was a surprise because he had hit a middling .255 the year before.

“From the All-Star break on, I hit .228 and I think I drove in just 21 runs. It was a terrible second half,” said Hernandez. “So I went into that 1979 season thankful that Ken Boyer was the manager.”

Boyer had taken over for fired Vern Rapp a month or so into the 1978 season and Hernandez said, “Ken Boyer was my guardian angel. The Cardinals were beginning to have doubts whether or not I was going to get it done — live up to what they thought I could be.

“Boyer had seen me play at Tulsa for two years when he managed there and he knew what I could do. But we got off to a slow April and we were going down to Houston after we played a weekend series against the Pirates.

“I was hitting about .230 (.236 to be precise) and he came back to me on the plane and said, ‘You’re my first baseman. You’re my third hitter. I’m going to keep my job or lose my job with you. I know you can play. Just relax and go play.’

“That was a watershed for me,” said Hernandez. “We had an off day and the next day Ken Forsch was pitching for Houston in the Astrodome and I didn’t like hitting there. But I went four for four and I was on my way.”