Athletes - Gil Hodges

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	Athletes - Gil Hodges

Gilbert Raymond Hodges, born Gilbert Ray Hodges' (April 4 1924 - April 2 1972), was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball.
Career
From 1943
through 1963, Hodges played for the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers (1943, 1947-61) and New York Mets (1962-63). He batted and threw right handed. Following his playing career, Hodges managed the Washington Senators (1963-67) and New York Mets (1968-71).

A native of Princeton, Indiana, Hodges was originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as a third baseman. After serving in the US Marine Corps during World War II, he returned to Brooklyn and was made the backup catcher. Shortly thereafter he was moved to first
and eventually became one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball history. He received three Gold Glove Awards between 1957 and 1959.

A member of the 1955 World Series champion World Champion 1955 Dodgers, Hodges held the National League record for grand slams (14) for several years, and he is a member of the exclusive club of players that have hit four home runs in a single game. Also, he had the second most RBI during the 1950's (1001), and was an eight-time All-Star, from 1949-55, and in 1957.

Hodges was one of the original 1962 Mets. A year later, he retired from playing and went on to manage the Washington Senators in the midseason. In 1968 he was brought back to manage the Mets and led them to the 1969 World Series championship.

Hodges died suddently of a heart attack in West Palm Beach, Florida while managing the Mets during spring training in 1972, just two days short of his 48th birthday.
Why not the Hall of Fame?
The fact that Gil Hodges is not a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY is seen by many as a travesty. He was one of the finest players of the 1950's and graduated to managerial success with the New York Mets. However, some say that his premature passing in 1972 caused an "out of sight / out of mind" status whereas other ball players, as well as numerous Dodger greats, were in the public eye years after and the exposure may assist with their induction. He has, however, collected over 3000 votes cast by the BBWAA during his Hall of Fame eligibility period. This is the most amount collected by any player presently not a member of Cooperstown!
Batting and fielding statistics (1943-1963)
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA 2071 7030 1105 1921 295 48 370 1274 63 943 1137.273

G PO A E DP TC FP 2084 15722 1365 145 1614 17232 .992
Managerial career (1963-1971)
Years Team G W L WPCT 1963-67 Washington 765 321 444 .420 1968-71 NY Mets 649 339 309 .523 TOTAL 1414 660 753 .467
Facts

Hodges was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1982.

Milton J. Shapiro published a biography of Hodges, The Gil Hodges Story (1960)

Hodges and Frank Slocum published a book called The Game Of Baseball (1969)

A bridge between Brooklyn and Rockaway, a park on Carroll St. and a Little League field on MacDonald Ave.'' in Brooklyn, were named after Hodges, as was the high school baseball stadium in his birthplace of Princeton, Indiana

Sources

- career playing statistics and managing record
- bio and career highlights

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Gil Hodges ]

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Athletes - Gil Hodges

Career

Why not the Hall of Fame?

Batting and fielding statistics (1943-1963)

Managerial career (1963-1971)

Facts

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Sources

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