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Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges Mets.jpg
Primera base / Manager
Nacimiento: 4 de abril de 1924 Princeton, Indiana(1924-04-04)
Fallecimiento: 2 de abril de 1972 (1972-04-02)(47 años)
West Palm Beach, Florida
Batted: DerechaLanzó: Derecha
Debut en la MLB
3 de octubre de 1943 para los Dodgers de Brooklyn
Última aparición en la MLB
5 de mayo de 1963 para los Mets de Nueva York
Estadísticas de MLB
Promedio de bateo.273
Jonrones370
Carreras impulsadas1,274
Registro gerencial650–753
Ganar%.463
Equipos
Como jugador

Como gerente

Destacados y premios de la carrera

Gilbert Ray Hodges , ne Hodge [1] (4 de abril de 1924 - 2 de abril de 1972) fue un primera base y mánager de las Grandes Ligas Estadounidenses (MLB) que jugó la mayor parte de sus 18 años de carrera con los Dodgers de Brooklyn y Los Ángeles . Fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama de los Mets de Nueva York en 1982.

En general, se considera que Hodges es el mejor primera base defensivo de la década de 1950. [ cita requerida ] Fue All-Star durante ocho temporadas y ganador del Gold Glove Award durante tres temporadas consecutivas. Hodges y Duke Snider son los únicos jugadores que tienen la mayor cantidad de jonrones o carreras impulsadas juntas durante la década con los Dodgers de Brooklyn. Hodges fue el líder de la Liga Nacional (LN) en dobles jugadas cuatro veces y en outs , asistencias y porcentaje de fildeo.tres veces cada uno. Ocupó el segundo lugar en la historia de la Liga Nacional con 1,281 asistencias y 1,614 juegos dobles cuando terminó su carrera, y estuvo entre los líderes de la carrera de la liga en juegos (6º, 1,908) y oportunidades totales (10º, 16,751) en la primera base.

Hodges también dirigió a los Mets de Nueva York al título de la Serie Mundial de 1969 sobre los favoritos Orioles de Baltimore , una de las mayores sorpresas en la historia del Clásico de Otoño. [2]

Hodges no está en el Salón de la Fama del Béisbol Nacional . En 2014, Hodges apareció por segunda vez como candidato en la boleta electoral del Comité de la Era Dorada del Salón de la Fama [3] para una posible consideración del Salón de la Fama en 2015. Él y los otros candidatos no fueron elegidos. [4]

Primeros años [ editar ]

Hodges nació en Princeton, Indiana , el hijo del minero de carbón Carlos y su esposa Irene, ( nee Horstmeyer). Tenía un hermano mayor, Robert, y una hermana menor, Marjorie. La familia se mudó a la cercana Petersburgo cuando Hodges tenía siete años. Fue un atleta estrella de cuatro deportes en Petersburg High School, ganando siete letras combinadas en fútbol , béisbol , baloncesto y atletismo. Hodges rechazó una oferta de contrato de 1941 de los Tigres de Detroit , y en su lugar asistió a Saint Joseph's College.con la esperanza de convertirse eventualmente en entrenador universitario. Hodges pasó dos años (1941-1942 y 1942-1943) en St Joseph's, compitiendo en béisbol, baloncesto y brevemente en fútbol. [5]

Fue contratado por su agente, Gabriel Levi, de los Dodgers de Brooklyn en 1943, y apareció en un juego para el equipo como tercera base ese año. Hodges ingresó al Cuerpo de Marines de los Estados Unidos durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial después de haber participado en el programa del Cuerpo de Entrenamiento de Oficiales de Reserva en Saint Joseph's. Sirvió en combate como artillero antiaéreo en el 16º Batallón de Artillería Antiaérea , participando en las batallas de Tinian y Okinawa , y recibió una Medalla de Estrella de Bronce con Combate "V" por heroísmo bajo fuego. [6]

Después de la guerra, Hodges también pasó un tiempo completando cursos en la Oakland City University , cerca de su ciudad natal, jugando baloncesto para los Mighty Oaks, y se unió al equipo de 1947-48 después de cuatro partidos (récord de 1-3); terminaron en 9-10. Uno de sus compañeros de equipo, Bob Lochmueller , pasaría a protagonizar la Universidad de Louisville y jugaría en la NBA . [7]

Dodgers de Brooklyn / Los Ángeles [ editar ]

Hodges fue dado de baja de la Infantería de Marina en 1946 y regresó a la organización de los Dodgers como receptor con los Newport News Dodgers de la Liga Piedmont , bateando .278 en 129 juegos mientras ganaban el campeonato de la liga; sus compañeros de equipo incluían al primera base y futuro estrella de cine y televisión Chuck Connors .

Hodges fue llamado a Brooklyn en 1947, el mismo año en que Jackie Robinson rompió la barrera del color del béisbol. Jugó como receptor, uniéndose al núcleo del equipo de Robinson, Pee Wee Reese y Carl Furillo . Con la aparición de Roy Campanella detrás del plato, el manager Leo Durocher cambió a Hodges a la primera base. La única aparición de Hodges en la Serie Mundial de 1947 contra los Yankees de Nueva York fue como bateador emergente del lanzador Rex Barney en el séptimo juego, pero se ponchó . [8] Como novato en 1948 , bateó .249 con 11 jonrones y 70 carreras impulsadas.

Hodges en 1949

El 25 de junio de 1949 , Hodges bateó para el ciclo en su camino a su primero de siete equipos All-Star consecutivos . Para la temporada, sus 115 carreras impulsadas en el cuarto lugar en la Liga Nacional, y se ataron Hack Wilson 's 1932 el récord del club de bateadores derechos con 23 cuadrangulares. Defensivamente, lideró la Liga Nacional en outs (1,336), dobles jugadas (142) y promedio de fildeo (.995). Enfrentándose a los Yankees nuevamente en la Serie de 1949 , bateó solo .235 pero impulsó la única carrera en la única victoria de Brooklyn, un triunfo por 1-0 en el Juego Dos. [9] En el quinto juego, conectó dos outs., jonrón de tres carreras en el séptimo para poner a los Dodgers dentro de 10–6, pero se ponchó para terminar el juego y la Serie. [10]

El 31 de agosto de 1950 contra los Bravos de Boston , Hodges se unió a Lou Gehrig como el segundo jugador desde 1900 en conectar cuatro jonrones en un juego sin el beneficio de entradas adicionales; los golpeó contra cuatro lanzadores diferentes, el primero de los cuales fue Warren Spahn . También tuvo diecisiete bases en total en el juego, empatado en el tercer lugar en la historia de la MLB.

Ese año también lideró la liga en fildeo (.994) y estableció un récord de la Liga Nacional con 159 dobles jugadas, rompiendo la marca de Frank McCormick de 153 con los Rojos de Cincinnati de 1939 ; rompió su propio récord en 1951 con 171, un récord que se mantuvo hasta que Donn Clendenon tuvo 182 para los Piratas de Pittsburgh de 1966 . Terminó en 1950 tercero en la liga en ambos jonrones (32) y carreras impulsadas (113), y quedó octavo en la votación del Jugador Más Valioso . En 1951 se convirtió en el primer miembro de los Dodgers en conectar 40 jonrones, rompiendo a Babe Herman.35 de 1930; Campanella conectó 41 en 1953, pero Hodges recuperó el récord con 42 en 1954 antes de que Snider lo eclipsara nuevamente con 43 en 1956. Su último jonrón de 1951 llegó el 2 de octubre contra los Gigantes de Nueva York , cuando los Dodgers empataron la Liga Nacional de tres juegos. Serie de playoffs en un juego, cada uno con una victoria de 10-0; Nueva York ganó el banderín al día siguiente en " Shot Heard 'Round the World " de Bobby Thomson . Hodges también lideró la Liga Nacional con 126 asistencias en 1951, y fue segundo en jonrones, tercero en carreras (118) y bases totales (307), quinto en porcentaje de slugging (.527) y sexto en carreras impulsadas (103).

Hodges fue ocho veces All-Star, de 1949 a 1955 y en 1957. Con su último jonrón de 1952, empató el récord de Dolph Camilli en los Dodgers de 139, superándolo en 1953; Snider se adelantó a Hodges en 1956. De nuevo lideró la Liga Nacional con 116 asistencias en la campaña de 1952 y fue tercero en la liga en jonrones (32) y cuarto en carreras impulsadas (102) y slugging (.500).

Hodges intentando atrapar en Ebbets Field

Un gran favorito de los fanáticos en Brooklyn, Hodges fue quizás el único habitual de los Dodgers que nunca abucheó en su estadio Ebbets Field . Los fanáticos lo apoyaron incluso cuando Hodges sufrió una de las caídas más famosas en la historia del béisbol: después de quedarse sin hits en sus últimos cuatro juegos de temporada regular de 1952, también se quedó sin hits en los siete juegos de la Serie Mundial de 1952 contra los Yankees (terminando la Serie 0 de 21 en el plato), con Brooklyn perdiendo ante los Yankees en los siete juegos. Cuando la depresión de Hodges continuó en la primavera siguiente, los fanáticos reaccionaron con innumerables cartas y regalos de buena suerte, y un sacerdote de Brooklyn, el padre Herbert Redmond de la Iglesia Católica Romana St. Francis, le dijo a su rebaño: "Hace demasiado calor para una homilía". Guarda los mandamientos y reza una oración por Gil Hodges ".[11] Hodges comenzó a batear de nuevo poco después y rara vez volvió a tener problemas en la Serie Mundial. Su compañero de equipo Carl Erskine, quien se describió a sí mismo como un buen bautista, bromeó diciendo: "Gil, casi me has convertido en un creyente". [12]

Hodges estuvo involucrado en una decisión fallida en la Serie Mundial de 1952 . Johnny Sain estaba bateando para los Yankees en la décima entrada del Juego 5 y roleteó, según lo dictaminado por el árbitro de primera base Art Passarella . La fotografía de la jugada, sin embargo, muestra a Sain pisando la primera base mientras Hodges, también con un pie en la bolsa, está alcanzando la pelota que está a un pie de entrar en su guante. El comisionado de béisbol Ford Frick , un ex periodista, se negó a defender a Passarella.

Hodges terminó 1953 con un promedio de bateo de .302, terminando quinto en la Liga Nacional en carreras impulsadas (122) y sexto en jonrones (31). Contra los Yankees en la Serie de 1953 , Hodges bateó .364; conectó tres hits , incluido un jonrón en la derrota del Juego 1 por 9-5, pero los Dodgers volvieron a perder en seis juegos. Bajo su nuevo manager Walter Alston en 1954, Hodges estableció el récord de jonrones del equipo con 42, bateando un récord personal de .304 y nuevamente liderando la Liga Nacional en outs (1,381) y asistencias (132). Fue segundo en la liga detrás de Ted Kluszewski en jonrones y carreras impulsadas (130), quinto en bases totales (335) y sexto en slugging (.579) y carreras (106), y se ubicó décimo en el Jugador Más Valioso. votar.

Los chicos del verano [ editar ]

En la temporada de 1955, la producción de la temporada regular de Hodges disminuyó a un promedio de .289, 27 jonrones y 102 carreras impulsadas. Enfrentándose a los Yankees en la Serie Mundial por quinta vez, acertó 1 de 12 en las primeras tres juegos antes de venir. En el Juego 4, Hodges conectó un jonrón de dos carreras en la cuarta entrada para poner a Brooklyn adelante, 4-3, y luego tuvo un sencillo que impulsó una carrera para mantener a raya a los Yankees, 8-5; También anotó la primera carrera en la victoria de los Dodgers por 5-3 en el Juego 5. En el Juego 7, impulsó a Campanella con dos outs en la cuarta entrada para una ventaja de 1-0 y agregó un elevado de sacrificio para anotar a Reese con un out. en la sexta entrada. Johnny Podres dispersó ocho hits de Nueva York, y cuando Reese lanzó a Elston HowardRodado a Hodges para el out final, Brooklyn tuvo una victoria por 2-0 y su primer título de Serie Mundial en la historia de la franquicia y su único campeonato en Brooklyn.

Hodges en 1958-59

En 1956, Hodges tuvo 32 jonrones y 87 carreras impulsadas cuando Brooklyn volvió a ganar el banderín, y una vez más se enfrentó a los Yankees en la Serie Mundial . En la tercera entrada del Juego 1, conectó un jonrón de tres carreras para poner a Brooklyn por delante, 5-2, mientras avanzaban hacia una victoria por 6-3; tuvo tres hits y cuatro carreras impulsadas durante la pelea de 13-8 en el Juego 2, anotando para dar a los Dodgers una ventaja de 7-6 en el tercero y duplicando dos carreras cada uno en la cuarta y quinta entradas para una ventaja de 11-7 . En el juego perfecto de Don Larsen , Hodges se ponchó, lanzó un elevado al centro y alineó a la tercera base, mientras que Brooklyn perdió en siete juegos.

En 1957, Hodges estableció el récord de Grand Slams de la Liga Nacional, rompiendo la marca de 12 que compartieron Rogers Hornsby y Ralph Kiner ; su total final de 14 fue empatado por Hank Aaron y Willie McCovey en 1972, y quebrado por Aaron en 1974. Terminó séptimo en la Liga Nacional con un promedio de bateo de .299 y quinto con 98 carreras impulsadas, y lideró la liga con 1,317 outs . También estuvo entre los diez mejores jugadores de la Liga Nacional en jonrones (27), hits (173), carreras (94), triples (7), slugging (.511) y bases totales (296); a fines de septiembre, impulsó la última carrera de los Dodgers en Ebbets Field y la última carrera en la historia de Brooklyn. Hodges fue incluido en su último equipo All-Star y quedó séptimo en la votación del Jugador Más Valioso.

Después de que los Dodgers se mudaron a Los Ángeles, el 23 de abril de 1958, Hodges se convirtió en el séptimo jugador en conectar 300 jonrones en la Liga Nacional, conectando a Dick Drott de los Cachorros de Chicago . Ese año también empató un récord posterior a 1900 al liderar la liga en dobles jugadas (134) por cuarta vez, igualando a Frank McCormick y Ted Kluszewski ; Donn Clendenon finalmente rompió el récord en 1968. Los totales de Hodges fueron 22 jonrones y 64 carreras impulsadas cuando los Dodgers terminaron en el séptimo lugar en su primera temporada en California. También rompió el récord de la Liga Nacional de Dolph Camilli de 923 ponches en su carrera en 1958.

En 1959, los Dodgers capturaron otro título de la Liga Nacional, con Hodges contribuyendo con 25 jonrones, 80 carreras impulsadas y un promedio de bateo de .276, llegando al séptimo en la liga con una marca de slugging de .513; también lideró la Liga Nacional con un promedio de fildeo de .992. Bateó .391 en la Serie Mundial de 1959 contra los Medias Blancas de Chicago (su primero contra un equipo que no eran los Yankees), con su jonrón en solitario en la octava entrada del Juego 4 dando a los Dodgers una victoria por 5-4, mientras triunfaban. en seis juegos por otro campeonato de la Serie.

En 1960, Hodges rompió el récord de la Liga Nacional de Kiner para bateadores diestros de 351 jonrones de por vida, y apareció en el programa de televisión Home Run Derby . En su última temporada con los Dodgers en 1961, se convirtió en el líder de carreras impulsadas en la carrera del equipo con 1.254, pasando a Zack Wheat ; Snider se adelantó a él al año siguiente. Hodges recibió los primeros tres premios Rawlings Gold Glove, de 1957 a 1959.

Regreso a Nueva York [ editar ]

After being chosen in the 1961 MLB Expansion Draft, Hodges was one of the original 1962 Mets and despite knee problems was persuaded to continue his playing career in New York, hitting the first home run in franchise history. By the end of the year, in which he played only 54 games, he ranked tenth in MLB history with 370 home runs – second to only Jimmie Foxx among right-handed hitters. He also held the National League (NL) record for career home runs by a right-handed hitter from 1960 to 1963, and held the NL record for career grand slams from 1957 to 1974.[13]

Managerial career[edit]

After 11 games with the Mets in 1963, during which he batted .227 with no homers and was plagued by injuries, he was traded to the Washington Senators in late May for outfielder Jimmy Piersall so that he could replace Mickey Vernon as Washington's manager. Hodges immediately announced his retirement from playing in order to focus on his new position. The Giants' Willie Mays had passed him weeks earlier on April 19 to become the NL's home run leader among right-handed hitters; Hodges' last game had been on May 5 in a doubleheader hosting the Giants (who had moved to San Francisco in 1958). Hodges managed the Senators through 1967, and although they improved in each season they never achieved a winning record.

In 1968 Hodges was brought back to New York to manage the perennially woeful Mets, and while the team only posted a 73–89 record it was nonetheless the best mark in their seven years of existence up to that point. In 1969, he led the "Miracle Mets" to the World Series championship, defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles; after losing Game 1, they came back for four straight victories, including two by 2–1 scores. Finishing higher than ninth place for the first time, the Mets became not only the first expansion team to win a World Series, but also the first team ever to win the Fall Classic after finishing at least 15 games under .500 the previous year. Hodges was named The Sporting News Manager of the Year, in skillfully platooning his players, utilizing everyone in the dugout, keeping everyone fresh.[citation needed] Hodges continued as manager through the 1971 season. He died before the opening of the 1972 season and was succeeded by Yogi Berra.

In the second game of doubleheader on July 30, 1969, the Houston Astros, after scoring 11 runs in the ninth inning of the first game,[14] were in the midst of a 10-run third inning, hitting a number of line drives to left field. When the Mets' star left fielder Cleon Jones failed to hustle after a ball hit to the outfield, Hodges removed him from the game,[15] but rather than simply signal from the dugout for Jones to come out, or delegate the job to one of his coaches, Hodges left the dugout and slowly, deliberately, walked all the way out to left field to remove Jones, and walked him back to the dugout, which was a resounding message to the whole team.[16] Jones reportedly never again had to be reminded to hustle.[17]

Death and impact[edit]

Hodges at Ebbets Field, circa 1953

On the afternoon of April 2, 1972, Easter Sunday, Hodges was in West Palm Beach, Florida completing a round of golf with Mets coaches Joe Pignatano, Rube Walker, and Eddie Yost, when he collapsed en route to his motel room at the Ramada Inn across the street from Municipal Stadium, then the spring training facility of the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. Hodges had suffered a sudden heart attack and was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital where he died within 20 minutes of arrival.[18] Pignatano later recalled Hodges falling backwards and hitting his head on the sidewalk with a "sickening knock", bleeding profusely and turning blue.[19] Pignatano said "I put my hand under Gil's head, but before you knew it, the blood stopped. I knew he was dead. He died in my arms."[19] A lifelong chain smoker, Hodges had suffered a minor heart attack in 1968, during a game in late September.[20][21][22]

Jackie Robinson, himself ill with heart disease and diabetes, told the Associated Press, "He was the core of the Brooklyn Dodgers.[19] With this, and what's happened to Campy (Roy Campanella) and lot of other guys we played with, it scares you. I've been somewhat shocked by it all. I have tremendous feelings for Gil's family and kids." Robinson died of a heart attack six months later on October 24 at age 53.[18]

Duke Snider said "Gil was a great player, but an even greater man."[19] "I'm sick," said Johnny Podres, "I've never known a finer man."[19] A crushed Carl Erskine said "Gil's death is like a bolt out of the blue."[19] Don Drysdale, who himself died in Montreal of a sudden heart attack in 1993 at age 56, wrote in his autobiography that Hodges' death "absolutely shattered me. I just flew apart. I didn't leave my apartment in Texas for three days. I didn't want to see anybody. I couldn't get myself to go to the funeral. It was like I'd lost a part of my family."[19]

The wake was held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Midwood, Brooklyn, on April 4, what would have been Hodges' 48th birthday. Approximately 10,000 mourners attended the service.[19]

Television broadcaster Howard Cosell was one of the many attendees at the wake. According to Gil Hodges Jr., Cosell brought him into the back seat of a car, where Jackie Robinson had been crying hysterically. Robinson then held Hodges Jr. and said, "Next to my son's death, this is the worst day of my life."[19]

Hodges was survived by his wife, the former Joan Lombardi (b. 1926 in Brooklyn), whom he had married on December 26, 1948, and their children Gil Jr. (b. 1950), Irene, Cynthia and Barbara. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Yogi Berra succeeded him as manager, having been promoted on the day of the funeral.[19] The American flag flew at half-staff on Opening Day at Shea Stadium, while the Mets wore black armbands on their left arms during the entire 1972 season in honor of Hodges. On June 9, 1973, the Mets again honored Hodges by retiring his uniform number 14.[19]

Accomplishments[edit]

The Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge at night, circa 2014

Hodges batted .273 in his career with a .487 slugging percentage, 1,921 hits, 1,274 runs batted in, 1,105 runs, 370 home runs, 295 doubles and 63 stolen bases in 2,071 games. His 361 home runs with the Dodgers remain second in team history to Snider's 389. His 1,614 career double plays placed him behind only Charlie Grimm (1733) in NL history, and were a major league record for a right-handed fielding first baseman until Chris Chambliss surpassed him in 1984. His 1,281 career assists ranked second in league history to Fred Tenney's 1,363, and trailed only Ed Konetchy's 1,292 among all right-handed first basemen. Snider broke his NL record of 1,137 career strikeouts in 1964. When he retired after the 1963 season, he had hit the most home runs (370) ever by a right-handed batter up to that point in time (surpassed by Willie Mays) and the most career grand slams (14) by a National League player (eclipsed by Willie McCovey). He shares the major league record of having hit four home runs in a single game (only 18 players have ever done so in MLB history).

Hodges received New York City's highest civilian honor, the Bronze Medallion, in 1969. On April 4, 1978 (what would have been Hodges' 54th birthday), the Marine Parkway Bridge, connecting Marine Park, Brooklyn with Rockaway, Queens, was renamed the Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge in his memory.[19] Other Brooklyn locations named for him are a park on Carroll Street, a Little League field on Shell Road in Brooklyn, a section of Avenue L and P.S. 193. In addition, part of Bedford Avenue in Midwood, Brooklyn, is named Gil Hodges Way. A Brooklyn bowling alley, Gil Hodges Lanes is named in his honor.

He is an inaugural member (1979) of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame.[23][24] Hodges was also inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1982.

In Indiana, the high school baseball stadium in his birthplace of Princeton and a bridge spanning the East Fork of the White River in northern Pike County on State Road 57 bear his name. In addition, a Petersburg Little League baseball team is named in his honor, the Hodges Dodgers.

In 2007, Hodges was inducted into the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.[25]

Hall of Fame consideration[edit]

Gil Hodges's number 14 was retired by the New York Mets in 1973.

There has been continuing controversy for decades over the fact Gil Hodges has not been elected to membership in the Baseball Hall of Fame.[26] He was considered to be one of the finest players of the 1950s,[19] and graduated to managerial success with the Mets. However, critics of his candidacy point out that despite his offensive prowess, he never led the National League in any offensive category such as home runs, runs batted in, or slugging percentage, and never came close to winning a Most Valuable Player award.[26] Hodges' not having been voted a Most Valuable Player may have been based in part on his having had some of his best seasons (1950, 1954 and 1957) in years when the Dodgers did not win the pennant.[26] In addition, his career batting average of .273 was likely frowned on by many Hall of Fame voters in his early years of eligibility; at the time of his death, only five players had ever been elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America with batting averages below .300 – all of them catchers or shortstops, and only one (Rabbit Maranville) who had an average lower than Hodges' or who had not won an Most Valuable Player award. By the time his initial eligibility expired in 1983, the Baseball Writers' Association of America had elected only two more players with averages below .274 – third basemen Eddie Mathews (.271), who hit over 500 home runs, leading the NL twice, and Brooks Robinson (.267), who won an Most Valuable Player award and set numerous defensive records.

In Hodges' defense, however, it bears mentioning that numerous other players, including Mathews, Al Kaline, Billy Williams and Eddie Murray, have been elected to the Hall of Fame despite never having been voted Most Valuable Player. Others, most notably Tony Pérez and Barry Larkin, have been elected despite never having led their leagues in any important offensive category in a season. (Perez, like Hodges, also was never voted Most Valuable Player, and his overall career statistics are very similar to Hodges'.) While Hodges did post some of his best season performances in years in which the Dodgers failed to win the pennant, he was nevertheless a significant contributor for the Dodgers in the seasons in which they did win pennants, as well. His contributions to the Dodgers' successful 1949, 1953, 1955 and 1959 campaigns are particularly noteworthy. With regard to Hodges' 1952 World Series slump, several Hall of Fame honorees, among them Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial and Ted Williams, also endured severe batting slumps in World Series play. More to the point, Hodges' failure in the 1952 World Series does not obscure his fine performances for the Dodgers in the other World Series they played during his tenure with the club. Hodges led the Dodger hitters in the 1953 World Series, posting a batting average of .364. Hodges' .304 mark in the 1956 Series earned him a tie with Duke Snider for the top Dodgers batting average, while his eight World Series runs batted in were good enough for the outright lead among Dodgers hitters in that department. Hodges shared top hitting honors for all starting position players on both teams in the 1959 Fall Classic with Chicago's Ted Kluszewski, both first basemen hitting at a .391 clip. He also drove in both runs in the Dodgers' decisive 2–0 victory in the seventh game of the 1955 Series, which brought Brooklyn its first (and only) World Series title.

Hodges was the prototype of the modern slugging first baseman, and while the post-1961 expansion era has resulted in numerous players surpassing his home run and runs batted in totals, he remains the only one of the 21 players who had 300 or more home runs by the time of his retirement who has not yet been elected (all but Chuck Klein and Johnny Mize were elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America). Some observers have also suggested that his death in 1972 removed him from public consciousness, whereas other ballplayers – including numerous Dodger greats – were in the public eye for years afterward, receiving the exposure which assisted in their election. He did, however, collect 3,010 votes cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America during his initial eligibility period from 1969 to 1983 – the second most for an unselected player, he was passed by Jack Morris in 2014 when he collected 351 votes to push his total to 3,324. Hodges was regularly considered for selection by the Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee from 1987 on, falling one vote short of election in 1993, when no candidates were selected.

Golden Era candidate[edit]

In the years since Hodges' retirement, the Hall of Fame has refused admittance to many players with similar or even superior records.[26] In 2011, Hodges became a Golden Era candidate (1947–1972 era) for consideration to be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee (which replaced the Veterans Committee in 2010) on December 5, 2011. The voting by the committee took place during the Hall of Fame's two day winter meeting in Dallas, Texas.[26] Ron Santo was the only one elected of the ten Golden Era candidates with 15 votes; Jim Kaat had 10 votes, and Hodges and Minnie Miñoso were tied with 9 votes. Hodges' next chance under the 16-member Golden Era Committee's electorates was on December 8, 2014, when the committee voted at the MLB winter meeting.[27] Hodges received only 3 votes, and none of the other eight player candidates on the ballot were elected to the Hall of Fame, including Dick Allen and Tony Oliva, who both received 11 of the needed 12 votes for Hall of Fame induction in 2015.

The next time Hodges will be eligible for a Hall of Fame vote will be in December 2021, when candidates from the revamped "Golden Days" era (1950–1969) are considered.[28]

Mural[edit]

A 52 foot (16 m) x 16 foot (4.9 m) mural was dedicated in Hodges' hometown of Petersburg, Indiana, in 2009; it was painted by artist Randy Hedden and includes pictures of Hodges as a Brooklyn Dodger, as manager of the New York Mets, and batting at Ebbets Field.[29] The mural, located at the intersection of state highways 61 and 57, is meant to "raise awareness of Hodges' absence from the Baseball Hall of Fame".[30]

See also[edit]

  • List of lifetime home run leaders through history
  • List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
  • List of Gold Glove Award winners at first base
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
  • List of Major League Baseball retired numbers
  • List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
  • List of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Gil Hodges SABR biography". Society for American Baseball Research.
  2. ^ "Page 2's List for top upset in sports history". ESPN.
  3. ^ "Golden Era Committee Candidates Announced". Baseball Hall of Fame.
  4. ^ National Baseball Hall of Fame, 8 December 2014, Golden Era Announces Results Retrieved April 23, 2015
  5. ^ Bill Robertson. "Gil Was Grid Hero, too... for One Day".
  6. ^ Clavin, Tom. (2013). Gil Hodges : the Brooklyn bums, the miracle Mets, and the extraordinary life of a baseball legend. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-451-23994-5. OCLC 798797291.
  7. ^ Engelhardt, Gordon. "Gil Hodges still stands tall on 50th anniversary of 1969 'Amazin' Mets' World Series title". Evansville Courier & Press.
  8. ^ "1947 World Series, Game Seven". Baseball-Reference.com. October 6, 1947.
  9. ^ "1949 World Series, Game Two". Baseball-Reference.com. October 6, 1949.
  10. ^ "1949 World Series, Game Five". Baseball-Reference.com. October 9, 1949.
  11. ^ Oliphant, Thomas (2005). Praying For Gil Hodges. United States: Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0-312-31761-1.
  12. ^ Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Peter Golenbock, Dover Publications, 1984.
  13. ^ "Today we visit a few giants". The New York Daily News. December 7, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  14. ^ "Houston Astros 16, New York Mets 3 (1)". Retrosheet. July 30, 1969.
  15. ^ "Houston Astros 11, New York Mets 5 (2)". Retrosheet. July 30, 1969.
  16. ^ "Gil Hodges pulls Cleon Jones July 30, 1969" – via YouTube. Joe Pignatano and Gil Hodges Widow Joan Hodges tell the real reason why Gil Hodges pulled Cleon Jones from the line up on July 30, 1969 during a tribute to Gil at the Brooklyn Baseball gallery in KeySpan Park in Coney Island in 2003.
  17. ^ Kernan, Kevin (August 22, 2009). "Hodges Guided '69 Miracle Team". New York Post. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009 – via Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ a b "Gil Hodges dies of heart attack". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. April 3, 1972. p. 1B.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Clavin, Tom; Danny Peary (2012). Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend. New York: New American Library. pp. 359–361, 370–375. ISBN 978-0-451-23586-2.
  20. ^ "Hodges' condition is 'satisfactory'". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 25, 1968. p. 1E.
  21. ^ "Indestructible Gil jolted by coronary". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 9, 1969. p. 6B.
  22. ^ Durso, Joseph (September 26, 1968). "Hodges, Stricken by Mild Heart Attack, Expected to Rejoin Mets by Spring". The New York Times. p. 65. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  23. ^ Inductees Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame.
  24. ^ Inductee: Gilbert Ray Hodges Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame.
  25. ^ "Gil Hodges". Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.
  26. ^ a b c d e Bloom, Barry M. (November 3, 2011). "Santo, Hodges among 10 on Golden Era ballot". MLB.com. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  27. ^ Rogers, Phil (December 5, 2011). "Cubs icon Santo elected to Hall of Fame". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  28. ^ "Eras Committees". baseballhall.org. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  29. ^ "Indiana Baseball Heritage Trail, Day 2". visitindiana.com. July 7, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  30. ^ Ethridge, Tim (May 6, 2009). "Petersburg honors Gil Hodges with mural". The Courier Press. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2012 – via Wayback Machine.

Further reading[edit]

Books[edit]

  • Amoruso, Marino (1991). Gil Hodges: The Quiet Man. Paul S. Eriksson. ISBN 083972957X.
  • Clavin, Tom; Peary, Danny (2012). Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Le gend. New American Library. ISBN 978-0451235862.
  • Hodges, Gil; Slocum, Frank (1969). The Game of Baseball. Crown Publishers. ASIN B0006CEQYI.
  • Kahn, Roger (1972). The Boys of Summer. Harper & Row. ISBN 0060122390.
  • Oliphant, Thomas (2005). Praying for Gil Hodges: A Memoir of the 1955 World Series and One Family's Love of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0312317611.
  • Shapiro, Milton J. (1960). The Gil Hodges Story. J. Messner. ASIN B0007DY7CM.
  • Zachter, Mort (2015). Gil Hodges: A Hall of Fame Life. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0803211247.

Articles[edit]

  • Gurnick, Ken (February 6, 2007). "First baseman Hodges was key to Brooklyn Dodgers' success in the 1950s". baseballhalloffame.org. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007 – via Wayback Machine.
  • Saccoman, John. "Gil Hodges". SABR.

External links[edit]

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
  • Gil Hodges managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
  • Official website
  • Gil Hodges at The Ultimate Mets Database
  • Gil Hodges at Find a Grave


Achievements
Preceded by
Wally Westlake		 Hitting for the cycle
June 25, 1949		Succeeded by
Stan Musial
Preceded by
Pat Seerey		 Batters with 4 home runs in one game
August 31, 1950		Succeeded by
Joe Adcock