Let’s Remember Gil Hodges!

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 Let’s Remember Gil Hodges!

“Gil Hodges was the core of the Brooklyn Dodgers.” –Jackie Robinson

“Gil was a great player, but an even greater man.” -Duke Snider

“I’ve never met a finer man.” – Johnny Podres

These accolades reveal just how much Gil Hodges meant to his teammates and to all who knew him. So let’s take a moment to remember this fine ball player – who was an even finer human being – with a few words about his outstanding career:

No doubt August 31, 1950, sixty-eight years ago this past week, was a memorable day in the career of Gil Hodges. On that day, he became the sixth player in major league history – and only the fourth player in the 20th century – to hit four homers in one game. He’s currently one of only 18 players to accomplish the feat. He also tied the major league record for total bases with 17. Gil hit the homers off four different pitchers, the first being Warren Spahn. Ironically, Carl Furillo was on base each time.

The Princeton, Indiana native played 18 seasons in the major leagues (1943, 1947-’63) for the Dodgers (1943, 1947-‘61) and the Mets (1962-’63). Over his career, he hit .273, with 370 home runs,1294 RBIs, 1105 runs, 1274 doubles, a .359 on-base percentage, and a .487 slugging average. His OPS+ of 120 places him well above his contemporaries (100 being the major league average). In 39 post-season games, he hit .267 with five home runs and 21 RBIs (all the more remarkable considering he endured a 0-21 slump in the 1952 World Series).

In the featured photo below we see Gil Hodges with teammates Gene Hermanski and Jackie Robinson, celebrating a rare 7-4-3 triple play they pulled off. (*Gene Hermanski gives the details of the triple play are at the bottom of the post.)

Gil Hodges, an eight-time All Star, was generally considered the best defensive first baseman of the 1950s, earning three Gold Glove awards and leading the league in many defensive categories. After his playing career, he managed the Senators (1963-’67), and the Mets (1968-’71), including the 1969 World Series championship, one of the greatest upsets in Fall Classic history.

Other highlights from his life and career include:

• He was a member of three World Series championships: 1955, 1959, and 1969.
• He was the National League leader in putouts, assists and fielding average three times each; and in double plays four times.
• When he retired, he ranked second in the National League with 1,281 assists and 1,614 double plays, and was among the league’s career leaders in games (6th) and total chances at first base (10th).
• Gil served in combat as an anti-aircraft gunner in the battles of Tinian and Okinawa, and received a Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” for heroism under fire.
• On June 25, 1949, Gil hit for the cycle.
• In 1949, he tied Hack Wilson’s Dodger club record for home runs by right-handers with 23.
• In 1951, he became the first Dodger to hit 40 home runs. He again topped the 40 mark in 1954 with 42. 
• He drove in 100-or-more runs in seven straight seasons (1949-1955) and had 11 straight seasons (1949-59) with at least 20 home runs.
• With his 140th home run in 1953, he surpassed Doph Camilli as the all-time Dodger home run leader. His 361 home runs with the Dodgers remain second in team history to Duke Snider’s 389.
• His 1,614 career double plays placed him behind only Charlie Grimm (1733) in National League history.
• His 1,281 career assists rank second in National League history to Fred Tenney’s 1,363, and trail only Ed Konetchy’s 1,292 among all right-handed first basemen.
• In 1957 Gil set the National League record for career grand slams, breaking the mark of 12 shared by Rogers Hornsby and Ralph Kiner; his final total of 14 was broken by Aaron in 1974.

Gil Hodges’ #14 was retired by the Mets in 1973. He is a member of the New York Mets Hall of fame. Many baseball historians consider his career to be worthy of the Hall-of-Fame, and a strong case can be made for his induction. Gil passed away on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, of a heart attack shortly after finishing a round of golf. 

* In starting the triple play against the Braves on April 26, 1949, Hermanski raced in from left field for Alvin Dark’s low, looping liner that twisted over shortstop and made a shoestring catch. “The runners [Johnny Sain and Eddie Stanky] never thought I would catch it and were running hard, so I threw to Jackie Robinson [at second] to make it a double play and he threw to Gil Hodges at first base to make it a triple play,” Gene said.

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All from Google search

Information: Excerpts edited from the Gil Hodges Wikipedia page.

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire” and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation