1976 Topps #647 - Ramon Hernandez

• Ramon Hernandez was mostly a relief pitcher from 1967-1977. Hernandez was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959. After pitching in the C/D minor league levels for two years (1959 and 1960), Ramon didn't pitch in organized baseball in 1961 and was sold to the Los Angeles Angels after the 1961 season.  
• Ramon pitched in the Angels' organization from 1962-1966 and pitched well at the A and AA levels, but he didn't show much when brought up to the AAA level. After the 1966 season Hernandez was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the Rule 5 draft.
• Hernandez had to stay with the Braves for the entire 1967 season. Ramon pitched in 46 games and was 0-2 with five saves and had a 4.18 ERA.
• After the 1967 season Hernandez was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft. Ramon was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in eight games for the Cubs. Hernandez was sold to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 14 and spent the rest of the 1968 season in AAA Tulsa. 
• Ramon pitched in AA Arkansas in 1969 but didn't pitch very well. Hernandez was released during spring training in 1970 and spent the season pitching in the Mexican League.
• The Pirates purchased Hernandez in 1971 and assigned him to AAA Charleston. Ramon pitched in 10 September games for the Pirates in 1971 and was 0-1 with 4 saves and had a 0.71 ERA. Hernandez was not on the Pirates' post-season roster.
• Ramon pitched well for the Pirates for the next few seasons:
• 1972 - 5-0, 1.67 ERA, 14 saves in 53 games. Had a 2.70 ERA in three games in the NLCS
• 1973 - 4-5, 2.41 ERA, 11 saves in 59 games
• 1974 - 5-2, 2.75 ERA, 2 saves in 58 games. Pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in two games in the NLCS.
• 1975 - 7-2, 2.95 ERA, 5 saves in 46 games. Pitched 2/3 of an inning in game 3 of the NLCS, allowed two runs, and took the loss.
• In 1976 Hernandez started with the Pirates (2-2, 3 saves, 3.56 ERA in 37 games) and was sold to the Chicago Cubs on September 8. Teammate Richie Zisk was upset about the deal because it left the Pirates without a lefthander in the bullpen for the stretch run. Ramon pitched 1.2 scoreless innings for the Cubs in two games at the end of the 1976 season.
• Hernandez was with the Cubs for the first two months of the 1977 season and was 0-0 with an 8.22 ERA in six games. Ramon was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Bobby Darwin on May 28. Hernandez was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in 12 games for the Red Sox and was released on August 20, 1977.
• After he left major league baseball Ramon continued to pitch in Puerto Rico for several years.
• Ramon passed away in Puerto Rico at the age of 68 on February 4, 2009 (article is in Spanish). Here is a blog article written about Hernandez after his death.

.