Trading the wrong lefty
Willie Hernandez with the Detroit Tigers in 1984
Coming off the National League pennant and believing they already have plenty of left-handers in the bullpen with the solid and occasionally brilliant Al Holland as well as the aging Tug McGraw, the Phillies 40 years ago today trade ever-consistent reliever Willie Hernandez and backup first baseman Dave Bergman to the Detroit Tigers for right fielder Glenn Wilson and backup catcher-first baseman John Wockenfuss.
Using a devastating screwball he learns from onetime Baltimore Orioles great Mike Cuellar, Hernandez in 1984 goes from ever consistent to utterly dominant with the Tigers, posting 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA while winning both the American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards in 1984.
Hernandez also leads the Tigers to the World Series title that season.
The Phillies will wait until 1993 to return to the World Series and then wait another 15 years to win their first World Series since 1980.
The deal from 40 years ago today quickly becomes lopsided against Philadelphia as Wilson never develops into the power-hitting right fielder Philadelphia fans envision, while Wockenfuss spends two seasons as a bench player before retiring after the 1985 season.
Bergman, whom the Phillies acquire just before this trade from San Francisco for bit-playing outfielder Alejandro Sanchez, ends up spending nine productive seasons with the Tigers.
As for Hernandez, the 1984 season is the first of three straight seasons for him as an American League All-Star.
By then, Holland loses his job as a closer in Philadelphia, while McGraw already begins enjoying his retirement.
During those three straight All-Star seasons, Hernadez posts 87 saves over 218 appearances for Detroit, where he remains through the 1989 season before the Tigers release him after a summer in which his ERA balloons to 5.74 in only 32 games.
Hernandez tries comebacks in the minor leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and the New York Yankees in 1995.
Neither attempt goes well, leading Hernandez to retire at the age of 40.