Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest thing to do, especially when they’ve been in your life for so many years. Recently, baseball legend Keith Hernandez said goodbye to his cat Hadji, who he had for 22 years.
Hadji had long been a favorite of fans online — read Hernandez’s tribute to his late beloved cat 😢💔
Keith Hernandez, 71, is a retired MLB player considered the best defensive first baseman of all time, known for winning World Series Championships with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. He is also a longtime TV color commentator for the Mets, and also known for his memorable cameos on Seinfeld.
But for many fans, Hernandez was often upstaged by his pet Bengal cat, Hadji, who was part of his life for over two decades and went viral thanks to many popular social media posts. Ordinary life moments like Hernandez going to get the paper with the senior cat on his shoulder, went viral online and made Hadji a star.
“I cannot tell you how many people have twittered me pictures of their cat laying out in the sun going, ‘My cat is madly in love with Hadji. Can we hook them up?’” Hernandez told The New York Times in 2018, also saying that some Mets fans waved a large cutout of Hadji during a game.
My old buddy. See you in another life. I know you’ll be waiting for me with open paws. pic.twitter.com/ELaQDvXkW1
— keith Hernandez (@keithhernandez) November 13, 2024
Last month, Hernandez celebrated Hadji’s 22nd birthday. The sweet cat exceeded the average life expectancy of her breed by several years. But sadly, it finally came time to say goodbye. This afternoon, Hernandez announced on social media that Hadji was humanely euthanized last week due to declining health.
“My old buddy. See you in another life,” Hernandez wrote on Twitter. “I know you’ll be waiting for me with open paws.”
“It was his time to go. No quality of life. He passed painlessly and with dignity,” he added. “Tough one. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.”
Many people replied expressing their condolences. The official New York Mets account also reshared Hernandez’s post: “Rest in peace, Hadji,” the team wrote.
Our condolences to baseball legend Keith Hernandez as he mourns the loss of his beloved cat of 22 years 😢💔 Hadji will never be forgotten by his many fans.