Hall of Fame
Joe Hernandez was a 1975 NCAA and AABC All-American. He graduated as the program-record holder in career batting average (.371, now tied for third) while ranking fifth in stolen bases (47, now 10th). Hernandez set the single-season program records for hits (92), total bases (144, now second), RBI (69, now third), batting average (.400, now fifth), at-bats (230, now fifth), and home runs (11, now eighth). His 1975 stats also include 51 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, 29 stolen bases, 30 walks compared to 14 strikeouts, and a team-high .626 slugging percentage in 68 games. Hernandez was drafted by the Chicago Cubs as an outfielder in the 26th round of 1975 MLB Draft. He was part of the 1975 team that was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 for posting the highest winning percentage (.900) in program history by going 63-7, the second-highest win total in program history and the third-lowest loss total. The 1975 team advanced to NCAA South Central Regionals, finishing runner-up to Texas. The team got off to 21-2 start and won program-record 20-straight game after starting 1-2 and featured eight other Hall of Fame players and coaches, including Ron Edquist, Jesse Trinidad, Jim Proctor, Jack Ewing, Tommy Simpson, Bobby Rutledge, Al Ogletree, and Reggie Tredaway.
"It's a great honor to be back in the Valley after so many years," Hernandez said. "I truly appreciate the kind words about my accomplishments, but I honestly never saw this induction becoming a reality.
"There was a small local bakery that had a promotion giving a free pie for any Bronc player that hit a home run. After a few weeks I was coming in to collect by 10th pie. They looked at me when I came in and joked, 'are you really on the baseball team?' My wife and I really enjoyed those pies."
