Gil Hodges

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Lore & Background

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 to sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers, making his MLB debut at age 19 before joining the United States Marine Corps during World War II, receiving the Bronze Star Medal with 'V' for valor device after serving in combat as an anti-aircraft gunner during the battles of Tinian and Okinawa. After being discharged, Hodges returned to the Dodgers' organization, making his way back to the majors in 1947. During his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Hodges was a core member of the 'Boys of Summer', along with Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, and Pee Wee Reese. He was widely regarded as the major leagues' outstanding first baseman in the 1950s, with Snider being the only player to have more home runs or runs batted in during the decade. Hodges held the National League record for career home runs by a right-handed hitter from 1960 to 1963, with his final total of 370 briefly ranking tenth in major league history; he held the NL record for career grand slams from 1957 to 1974. A sterling defensive player, Hodges won the first three Gold Glove Awards ever awarded, for his position. The first was MLB-wide; not just for the NL. He led the NL in double plays four times and in putouts, assists and fielding percentage three times each. He ranked second in NL history with 1,281 assists and 1,614 double plays when his career ended, and was among the league's career leaders in games (6th, 1,908) and total chances (10th, 16,751) at first base. After retiring as a player during the 1963 season, Hodges became the manager of the expansion Washington Senators. He did not have a winning season there, although the team did improve upon their win total each year during Hodges's 5-year tenure. Before the 1968 season, the New York Mets hired Hodges as manager. The following season, he led the team to their first winning season and World Series title. A heavy smoker, Hodges died suddenly from a heart attack two days before his 48th birthday, during spring training in 1972. The Mets retired his number, 14, the following season; 49 years later, during the 2022 season, the Dodgers followed suit after his election to the Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The slump of late 1952 into the World Series remains a defining chapter. After going hitless in his final four regular-season games, Hodges went 0-for-21 in the seven-game series against the Yankees, ending with a strikeout in Game Five to seal Brooklyn's loss. He was also involved in a blown call where umpire Art Passarella ruled Johnny Sain out at first despite photographic evidence showing Sain safe while Hodges reached for the ball. When his hitting drought continued into 1953, fans sent countless letters and good-luck gifts. Father Herbert Redmond of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church told his flock: 'It's too hot for a sermon today. Go home, keep the commandments, and say a prayer for Gil Hodges.' Hodges began hitting again soon after. Teammate Carl Erskine later kidded him, saying, 'Gil, you just about made a believer out of me,' noting he rarely struggled in the World Series again.

Reader's Guide

Hodges played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 through 1957, then for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1958 through 1961. He was traded to the New York Mets and played for them in 1962 and 1963 before retiring as a player during the 1963 season. He held the National League record for career home runs by a right-handed hitter from 1960 to 1963, when it was broken by Willie Mays.

Did You Know?

• Hodges hit four home runs in a single game on August 31, 1950, against the Boston Braves, joining Lou Gehrig as only the second player since 1900 to do so without extra innings.
• He won the first three Gold Glove Awards ever awarded for first basemen, with the first being MLB-wide, not just for the National League.
• Hodges held the National League record for career grand slams from 1957 to 1974.
• He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and received a Bronze Star Medal with Combat 'V' for heroism under fire.