Tigers Acquire Willie Hernandez in the Trade That Completes a Championship

On March 24, 1984, the Detroit Tigers acquired left-handed reliever Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Glenn Wilson and catcher John Wockenfuss. General manager Bill Lajoie made the deal at the urging of manager Sparky Anderson, who told the front office he needed two specific pieces: a quality left-handed reliever and a left-handed bat off the bench.

Anderson got both. Hernandez became the anchor of what would prove to be one of the most dominant bullpen seasons in history. Working alongside setup man Aurelio Lopez, Hernandez appeared in 80 games, posted a 9-3 record with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA, and converted 33 consecutive save opportunities at one stretch. He won both the American League Cy Young Award and the MVP Award after the season, one of the rare relievers to claim both honors.

Bergman filled his role precisely as Anderson envisioned, hitting .273 with timely contributions off the bench and reliable defense at first base. His 13-pitch at-bat against Toronto's Roy Lee Jackson on June 4, ending with a walk-off home run, became one of the signature moments of the season.

The Tigers opened 1984 with a 35-5 record, the best start in modern baseball history. They led the American League East wire-to-wire and defeated the San Diego Padres in five games to win the World Series. The March 24 trade was the final addition to a roster that already had Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris, and Kirk Gibson. Hernandez and Bergman were the pieces that eliminated any remaining weakness.