Nearly a half-century after his death, Gil Hodges has an added line to a resume that includes U.S. Marine, All-Star first baseman and World Series-winning manager. He’s a Hall of Famer.
In his 35th appearance on a ballot for Cooperstown, the former Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers star and guiding force behind the 1969 Miracle Mets obtained the necessary 75 percent of the vote from the Golden Days Era committee for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.
Hodges joined Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva as selections by the committee. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce its 2022 Hall of Fame selections next month.
In 18 major league seasons, Hodges hit 370 homers and amassed 1,274 RBIs and 1,921 hits. An eight-time National League All-Star selection he won three straight Gold Gloves at first base beginning in 1957 when the award was first instituted. He played for World Series winning teams in Brooklyn (1955) and Los Angeles (1959). During Hodges’ peak seasons (1949-59) only Dodgers teammate Duke Snider amassed more homers and RBIs among MLB players. Hodges retired with the third-highest home run total by a right-handed hitter, behind only Jimmie Foxx and Willie Mays.
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