Gil Hodges
Hall of Fame first baseman and manager who led the Mets to their first World Series title.
Gilbert Raymond Hodges (born 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 All-Star, he anchored the infield for the Dodgers through six pennant winners and two World Series titles 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.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Player & Manager
- Affiliation
- New York Mets
- Status
- Deceased (Hall of Famer)
- Key achievement
- 1969 World Series Champion as Manager
- Playing position
- First Base
- Legacy status
- Mets Hall of Fame
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 in the Pacific Theatre. 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 (NL) 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, in what is considered one of the greatest championship runs in sports history, 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.
Reader's Guide
Gil Hodges was a Hall of Fame first baseman and manager, best known for his 18-year playing career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and for managing the New York Mets to their first World Series title in 1969. He was an eight-time All-Star, won three Gold Glove Awards, and held the NL record for career home runs by a right-handed hitter from 1960 to 1963. His 370 career home runs briefly ranked tenth in major league history. He also held the NL record for career grand slams from 1957 to 1974. After his playing career, he managed the Washington Senators and then the Mets, leading the Mets to a historic championship in 1969. He died suddenly in 1972 at age 47.
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