As a New York Mets legend, Keith Hernandez is used to making headlines for the organization as a player and now color commentator. He probably wants to rewind and redo the full sequence of his day on Sunday.
Before the Mets took on the St. Louis Cardinals on the road, Mets play-by-play broadcaster Gary Cohen addressed the “elephant in the room” during pregame introductions. Hernandez had forgotten his usual PIX11 broadcast TV shirt. As a result, he was forced to wear one with a makeshift logo, seemingly pieced together with duct tape and a black marker. The difference between his shirt and Cohen’s was quite obvious.
Rather than make up some weird excuse, Hernandez acknowledged he just made a mistake during his travels and roasted himself for his blunder out of shame live on PIX11 air:
“Before we talk about the game tonight, we have to talk about the elephant in the room… Keith’s shirt." – Gary Cohen
"I'm just a dunderhead." – Keith Hernandez 🤷 pic.twitter.com/EFWrDVfGdt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 20, 2023
Hernandez could’ve taken this anywhere. In fact, the broadcast didn’t even necessarily have to acknowledge his shirt faux pas. But no, he is a professional. And professionals like him courageously admit when they’re wearing a broadcast polo scrambled together out of necessity.
This was how Twitter reacted
That’s the way to start a game https://t.co/RlFhY2qhqh
— trey wingo (@wingoz) August 20, 2023
Gary, Keith and Ron are the good standard of booths.
Coming from a non Mets fan https://t.co/HtiPWJVuTG— Chris Watson (@WatsonSports) August 20, 2023
Keith Hernandez must be protected at all costs https://t.co/beY96GpQGm
— Daniel Grosso (@Daniel_Grosso) August 20, 2023
a lot of people are making the “orioles would fire him” joke right now which is all well and good and also correct so i too will make the joke.
the orioles would fire him. https://t.co/4XNWJNNLxE
— Corey Gloor (@CoreyGloor) August 20, 2023
For all his stupid mishaps, you still gotta love Keith for stuff like this. #LGM https://t.co/CHVgokIJad
— ヤン (@janblurr) August 20, 2023
Well done. https://t.co/KmHruhrYB0
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) August 20, 2023
Hot take: baseball is more enjoyable because of moments like this than other sports.
The pace that baseball is played at allows for endearing moments like this, even during the game. And having a relationship with a hometown broadcaster matters to fans. https://t.co/pDmUxX5mJF
— Dylan, a 2nd round pick (@RevDMells) August 20, 2023
More great stuff from the best TV crew in baseball https://t.co/oQk6FsKE4a
— Ian Cameron (@bobano) August 20, 2023
One of the best duos in baseball just having fun. Easy to forget that it’s not brain surgery, it’s baseball. Have fun!! #BreakInBreakThrough https://t.co/Rp7RZ4hoWU
— Rich Hollenberg (@RichHollenberg) August 20, 2023