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 Gil Hodges Photo Gallery
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The Baseball World Mourns the Sudden Passing of Gil Hodges, April 2, 1972

Yesterday was the anniversary of a sad day in baseball history. Forty-seven years ago on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972, Mets’ manager Gil Hodges collapsed and died shortly after completing a round of golf with his Met coaches, Joe Pignatano, Rube Walker, and Eddie Yoast in West Palm Beach, Florida.

 

The incident occurred as Gil was returning to his Ramada Inn hotel room across from Municipal Stadium, then the spring training facility of the Braves and Expos. Gil had suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

 

Pignatano later recalled Hodges falling backwards and hitting his head violently on the sidewalk which caused profuse bleeding as Gil lost consciousness. “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.”

 

Gil Hodges was a great ball player and a strong case can be made that he belongs in the Hall of Fame. If you’d like to read an article I recently wrote detailing his outstanding career and enumerating his qualifications for the Hall (along with a petition in support of his candidacy which I invite you to sign), here’s a link.  In the article, I also address and answer many of the objections to his HOF qualifications that have been raised over the years.

 

As far as intangibles like character, leadership, and integrity, there were few better than Gil Hodges. A deeply religious man, he was devoted to his family and played an active role in his community, especially with youth sports.

 

And how was he viewed by his teammates? His sudden passing affected his teammates and all who knew him well deeply. To say he was admired and respected would be a gross understatement. Here’s a small sampling:

 

Jackie Robinson: “He was the core of the Brooklyn Dodgers. With this, and what’s happened to Campy 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. Next to my son’s death, this is the worst day of my life.”

 

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

 

Johnny Podres: “I’m sick. I’ve never known a finer man.”

 

Carl Erksine: “Gil’s death is like a bolt out of the blue.”

 

Don Drysdale: Gil’s 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.”

 

Pee Wee Reese: If you had a son, you’d want him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges.”

 

Roy Campanella: “Gil Hodges was a Hall-of-Fame man.”

 

Clem Labine: “Brooklyn fans knew their baseball and Gil was the only player I can remember whom the fans never – and I mean never – booed.”

 

New York Times Sportswriter, Arthur Daley: “Gil Hodges was such a noble character in so many respects that I believe him to have been one of the finest men I met in sports or out if it.”

 

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

 

The American flag flew at half-staff on the 1972 Opening Day at Shea Stadium, along with a moment of silence. The Mets wore black armbands on their left arms during the entire season in Gil’s memory. His number 14 was retired by the Mets on June 9, 1973. Gil was survived by his wife Joan and their four children: Gil Jr., Irene, Cynthia, and Barbara.

 

As many of you are aware, I’ve recently been championing the cause of Gil Hodges’ selection to the Hall of Fame. Many baseball historians are also on this bandwagon, hoping to correct what we consider to be a gross injustice to an outstanding ball player – who happened to be an even better man – and very much deserves this honor. If you would like to sign the petition in Gil’s behalf, please click on the link below.