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If Keith Hernandez ever decides to stop calling New York Mets games, he’ll always have another source of income.
The team’s legendary former first baseman became the team’s broadcaster in 1999 and is a multiple local Emmy winner for his skills on the microphone. But after he hung up his cleats, he tested his acting skills.
Hernandez was one of several New York baseball stars to appear on “Seinfeld,” playing himself in three episodes. However, his most famous appearance came in the 1992 two-part episode, “The Sweetheart”, when he becomes a love interest for Elaine despite Kramer and Newman’s grudge against him stemming from a June 14, 1987 spitting incident.
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Keith Hernandez and Jerry Seinfeld at Shea Stadium in New York. (Stephen Lovekin/WireImage)
The episode prompted Hernandez’s infamous line, “I’m Keith Hernandez.” Two documentaries about him have even used the line for the title.
Due to the massive success of the episode, Hernandez still receives some nice leftovers.
“It varies, but I can tell you that on an annual basis I still come close to $5,000. It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Hernandez shared. “SI Media Podcast.” “Remember one thing: I was the guest star.”
Ron Darling, Gary Cohen, Jerry Seinfeld and Keith Hernandez pose as ‘Jerry Seinfeld Celebrates Seinfeld on Netflix’ at Citi Field on September 29, 2021 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix)
RANGERS PITCHER LEARNS HE MADE OPENING DAY PLAN DURING GAME
Former New York Yankees outfielder Paul O’Neill also appeared in a famous episode, “The Wink,” in Season 7, in which Kramer (played by Michael Richards) promises a boy in the hospital that he would make the right fielder hit two home runs in one game in an attempt to get back a birthday card for George Steinbrenner, signed by members of the Yankees, that he had sold.
O’Neill revealed in 2024 that he also still gets residuals, but they are nowhere near the same level as Hernandez’s.
“Yeah, they’re $57,” O’Neill said while calling a Yankees game. “It’s not that big of a time. It’s a nice reminder that you were on the show, though. It’s kind of cool.”
Former New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez speaks to the press prior to 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.
