COLUMBIA — Former University of South Carolina Aiken baseball player Roberto Hernandez is among seven individuals selected to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Hernandez is the first USC Aiken standout to be inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
Hernandez is the most successful student-athlete USCA has ever produced. A 17-year veteran of Major League Baseball, Hernandez transferred to USCA from UConn in 1986. After changing from catcher to pitcher and in his one season as a Pacer, Hernandez posted a 10-2 record with 97 strikeouts in 94 innings. At the plate, he belted 19 home runs and led USCA to an appearance in the NAIA World Series.
In 1986, Hernandez was a NAIA All-American, All-World Series Team member, and the NAIA Area 7 Player of the Year. He was drafted with the 16th pick in the first round of the 1986 draft by the California Angels.
For his pro career, he was a two-time MLB All-Star, pitched in 1,010 games, had a 67-71 record, 3.45 ERA, 945 strikeouts and 326 saves. Hernandez began his career with the Chicago White Sox, staying with them for seven years (1991-97), and then spent time with the San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers before finishing his career in 2007.
When Hernandez retired, he ranked in the top 15 all-time in career saves and was one of only 11 pitchers to have pitched in 1,000 or more major league games. He had his Pacer jersey retired in 2001 and in 2007, he was inducted into the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame. A major USCA baseball donor, the Roberto Hernandez Baseball Stadium was opened in September 2003.
Other inductees include: former Clemson and NFL kicker/punter Chris Gardocki; former South Carolina and College of Charleston women's basketball coach Nancy Wilson; former Lamar High, USC an NFL star John Abraham; former Wando High and NFL star Dexter Coakley; former Clemson baseball star Shane Monahan; and former Claflin basketball star Miriam Walker-Samuels.
The S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for May 13 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Tickets (table of eight for $600) and program sponsorships are available by securing a table from the SCAHOF office (803-779-0905). Payment and reservations must be made by April 12.
