Gil Hodges — Wikipedia

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Gilbert Raymond Hodges (nor Hodge ; April 4, 1924 – April 2, 1972) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his 18-year career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. An eight-time Major League All-Star Game pick, he won six league championships and two World Series with the Dodgers before leading the New York Mets to their first World Series title in 1969. One of the most beloved and admired players in major league history, Hodges was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, fifty years after his sudden death.

Born in Princeton, Indiana, Hodges was the son of a coal miner. He grew up in Petersburg, Indiana, where he was a four-sport athlete in high school, before attending Saint Joseph’s College where he played baseball and basketball. He dropped out of college to sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers, making his debut at age 19 before joining the United States Marine Corps during World War II, receiving the Bronze Star Medal after serving in combat as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Battles of Tinian and Okinawa in the Pacific Theater. After being released, Hodges returned to the Dodgers organization, making his return to the major leagues in 1947. During his time in the minor leagues he played with first baseman and future film and television star Chuck Connors.

Hodges was called up to Brooklyn in 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier. He played as a catcher, joining the team’s core of Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Carl Furillo. In 1948, with the emergence of Roy Campanella behind the plate and Robinson’s move to second base in 1948, manager Leo Durocher moved Hodges to first base, and he hit .249 with 11 home runs and 70 RBIs over of his rookie season.

He was subsequently widely considered the best first baseman in the major leagues of the 1950s, trailing only Duke Snider as the player with the most home runs or RBIs during the decade. In 1960, Hodges broke Ralph Kiner’s National League record for right-handed hitters with 351 career home runs. In his final season with the Dodgers in 1961, he became the team’s leader in career RBIs with 1,254, passing Zack Wheat; Snider beat him the following year. From 1949 to 1955 he produced 100 or more points in seven consecutive campaigns.[1]

On August 31, 1950, Hodges became the second player in the modern era of the National League to hit four home runs in a single game.^[[1]

On October 3, 1951 Hodges had a role in a home run that made baseball history. Defending at first base against the New York Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning with his team leading 4-1, Hodges curiously held Giants runner Dark at first base, freeing up a gaping hole between first and second. The next batter Don Mueller hit a single right there and Dark found himself at third base. Later in the inning, Bobby Thomson hit a three-run home run to help the Giants win the National League championship.^[[2]

During the 1956 World Series he forced Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees into a superb catch to help pitcher Don Larsen in his perfect game, the only one in World Series history.^[[3]

In September 1957, he drove in the Dodgers’ last run at Ebbets Field, and the last run in Brooklyn history before the team moved to Los Angeles for the 1958 season.

Hodges held the National League (NL) record for career home runs by a right-handed hitter from 1960 to 1963. He held the NL record for career grand slams from 1957 to 1974. An outstanding defensive player, Hodges won the first three Gold Gloves for his position. When he retired he had the third-highest home run total for a right-handed hitter.^[[4]

Hodges was selected by the New York Mets in the 1961 MLB expansion draft. He hit the first home run in franchise history. After 11 games with the Mets in 1963, he was traded to the Washington Senators in late May for outfielder Jimmy Piersall so he could replace Mickey Vernon as Washington manager. Hodges immediately announced his retirement from playing in order to concentrate on his new position. His last game took place on May 5 during a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants. ^[[5] He did not have a winning season there, although the team improved its win total each year during Hodges’ 5-year tenure. Before the 1968 season, the New York Mets hired Hodges as manager. The following season, in what is considered one of the greatest championships in sports history, he led the team to its first winning season and its first World Series victory. For this feat he was named manager of the year in major baseball. In 1970 and 1971 he led the Mets to third place in the National League East Division with records of 83-79.

A heavy smoker, Hodges died suddenly of a heart attack at age 47 during spring training in 1972. The Mets wore a black armband in his honor during the 1972 season and retired his number 14 the following year. following season.

Hodges was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on November 5, 2021 by the Veterans Committee. ^[[6] He had received 12 of 16 votes to reach the 75% threshold. Hodges was officially inducted on July 24, 2022, with his daughter Irene delivering a speech on his behalf. ^{[[7] [[8]} Following his election, the Los Angeles Dodgers retired his number.

In 1948, Hodges married Joan Lombardi (September 27, 1926 – September 17, 2022), a native of Brooklyn. The couple had four children together: Gilbert Jr., Irene, Cynthia and Barbara. ^[[9] The family resided in Midwood, Brooklyn, where Hodges had several business investments, including a bowling alley.