Keith Hernandez, Cardinals’ Hall of Famer, initially blocked by team security

There have been many cases over the years of security officials blocking prominent sports figures who they don’t recognize. But even by those standards, the St. Louis Cardinals’ rejection of New York Mets’ broadcaster Keith Hernandez (who’s in their own team Hall of Fame) stands out:

Keith Hernandez, Cardinals Hall of Famer, briefly had trouble getting into Busch Stadium this afternoon because he had his 2023 badge, which wouldn’t scan, so security wouldn’t let him pass. He eventually dug his 2024 ID out of his bag.

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) May 6, 2024

Credential requirements are often understandable. It’s not realistic to expect stadium security personnel to be aware of every current media member’s face without an accompanying credential. However, there should be a common-sense exemption for extremely-prominent people. Including one who once spoke “I’m Keith Hernandez” on Seinfeld (and went on to use that as the title of his memoir):

That’s even more absurd than the security figure who once rejected Toronto Raptors’ general manager Masai Ujiri. (Which led to an absurd series of events, including litigation.) And it really does seem that a Cardinals’ security staffer should have been able to recognize current SNY broadcaster Hernandez.

There are lots of things one could recognize Hernandez for. That includes his playing career with the Cardinals, Mets, and Cleveland. It also includes his Seinfeld appearances, and his since-1999 work broadcasting the Mets (largely as part of a beloved team with Gary Cohen and Ron Darling). But this lack of recognition of him here did at least provide a funny moment.

[Tim Healey on Twitter/X; image via Yarn]