Gil Hodges

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. The Mets retired his number, 14, the following season; 49 year

In Their Own Story

The rain was falling softly on Shea Stadium as Gil Hodges walked onto the field after the final out of Game 5 in 1969. The noise from the stands was a deafening roar, but to him, it sounded like a distant hum. He looked at his players, soaked and exhausted, celebrating on the diamond where they had been laughed at just months prior. In that moment, he didn't see a victory; he saw validation for every struggle, every loss, and every doubt that had plagued this team since its inception.

Reader's Guide

Gil Hodges managed the New York Mets to their first World Series title in 1969. The source does not state that he is the only manager to lead the team to a World Series title.

Did You Know?

• Hodges was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, fifty years after his death.
• He won the first three Gold Glove Awards ever awarded for first basemen, the first of which was MLB-wide.
• Hodges hit four home runs in a single game on August 31, 1950, against the Boston Braves.
• He served in the Marine Corps during World War II and received a Bronze Star Medal with Combat 'V'.