THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL December 2: Cards 1B Keith Hernandez wins first of 11 Gold Gloves

Keith Hernandez was a batting champion, an NL MVP, a clubhouse leader, and a two-time World Series winner with the Cardinals and Mets during his 17-year career.

But while he wasn’t a traditional slugging first baseman — he never hit more than 16 homers in a season, and only had more than 100 RBI once — it was his elite defense that made him a star.

On this day in béisbol, December 2, the 24-year-old St. Louis first-sacker won the first of his 11 Gold Gloves, the sixth-best in MLB history for position players (Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson leads the list with 18) and the most ever for a first baseman.

And because he’s Keith Hernandez, of course, the Mets first captain in team history (a title he shared with catcher Gary Carter) and their current TV broadcaster was also a sitcom star, appearing in a memorable story arc on “Seinfeld” as himself.

Also on this day: On the heels of a Cy Young Award, Dodgers southpaw Fernando Valenzuela capped his stellar debut season in 1981 by winning the National League Rookie of the Year. The Mexican import whose starts were a sold-out event at Dodger Stadium went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and led the NL in strikeouts, complete games, shutouts, and innings pitched in a strike-shortened season that saw L.A. win the World Series against the Yankees.