The Mets, who were about to emerge from a long rebuild and contend for seven straight seasons, acquired Keith Hernandez from the St. Louis Cardinals on today's date in 1983.

In exchange, New York sent relievers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey to St. Louis.

Hernandez -- who was co-MVP of the NL in 1979 with Willie Stargell -- had become the best two-way first baseman in the majors by that point in his career and was about to win the sixth of 11-straight Gold Glove awards.

At the plate, Hernandez was a force, with a career .299/.387/.449 triple slash entering the 1983 season.

''It's not often that you get the chance to acquire someone with the talent of Keith Hernandez,'' Mets GM Frank Cashen said after swinging the trade. ''His addition should improve our club in two areas, the starting lineup and the bench.''

Even though the Mets viewed Hernandez as one of the last pieces they needed before crossing over from rebuilding to contention, he was understandably slow to come around after going from a team that won the World Series in 1982 to one that hadn't had a winning season since 1976.

Hernandez, who was 29 years old when the trade went down, was set for free agency after the season. But when he saw the talent of Darryl Strawberry (among others) and the reinforcements the Mets had coming from the minors -- including Dwight Gooden -- he was swayed.

The Mets signed Hernandez to a five-year deal worth $8.4 million after the season, and went 90-72 in 1984. They then traded for Gary Carter before the 1985 season and went on to win 98 games that season while narrowly missing the playoffs.

Led by Hernandez, Carter, Strawberry, and a starting rotation featuring Gooden, Bob Ojeda, Ron Darling, and Sid Fernandez, the 1986 Mets won 108 games during the regular season before taking down the Houston Astros in a dramatic NLCS and the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

Video: SEE IT: The Best of SNY's 1986 WS Game 6 Watch Party

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