January 23rd, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 About this time every year, when a new Hall of Fame class is announced, and later in the year when the Veteran’s Committee chooses players who were previously overlooked by the Baseball Writers, I am reminded that former – and great – Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges has been snubbed by the Hall of Fame voters.
As most older Dodger fans know, the great Vin Scully was always in Gil’s corner, saying what a shame it was that he was never enshrined in the sacred shrine in Cooperstown.
I am a Dodgers fan, an OLD Dodgers fan, who has been following the team for almost 65 years; and yes, I figuratively bleed Dodgers Blue, so some might say that I am a biased fan of Hodges, which might be a fair argument as, he was one of my favorites amongst The Boys of Summer. But I also believe there are objective reasons why he should have been elected long ago.
Hodges was signed by the Dodgers in 1943 when he was 19 and almost immediately joined the Marines, fighting in the South Pacific as an anti-aircraft gunner, receiving a Bronze Star Medal in combat for heroism under fire. His military service delayed his professional baseball career until 1946; he did not play full time with the Dodgers until 1948, shifting from catcher to first base so that Roy Campanella could be the regular catcher.
From 1949 through 1959 Hodges hit 22 or more home runs in 11 consecutive seasons. In 1951 he became the first Dodgers to ever hit 40 home runs in one season and in 1954 reached his career high of 42 when he also scored 106 runs and had 130 RBI. Hodges recorded 100 or more RBI for seven consecutive seasons, all while striking out less than 100 times in any season. In his career he hit 370 home runs, 295 doubles, 48 triples, and stole 64 bases. His career slash-line of .273 / .359 / .487/ .846 was affected during the last 4 years of his career when age and assorted injuries took a significant toll, hitting below .240 over his last 643 plate appearances.
Other hitting accomplishments included hitting four home runs in a 9-inning game on August 31, 1950. At the time, only Hodges and Lou Gehrig had accomplished this remarkable feat. At another time, Hodges was the leader in Grand Slam home runs with 14, and in 1958 hit his 300th home run which, at the time, was only the seventh National League player to reach that total.
Hodges is considered to be the best fielding first baseman in the 50’s, winning the Rawlings Gold Glove at the position each of the first 3 years awarded (1957-1959) and he was voted into the All-Star game eight times by his peers.
Upon his early death at age 47 he was remembered as the best known “nice guy” who finished first, the hero of Flatbush, the devoted family man, the good Marine – the man for whom a congregation would say prayers.
I still hope that Gil makes it to the Hall of Fame some day. He deserved that recognition long ago.
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Thanks for a great article on Gil Hodges.
Always liked Gil as a kid and have several of his baseball cards.
Didn’t know he was a Marine, Semper Fi Gil. A great American!
Sounds like making the Hall of Fame wouldn’t be near his biggest life accomplishment.
I remember how Scully would fondly talk about Hodges with many great stories. I wonder if Hodges HOF chances were hurt by having so many Boys of Summer teammates voted in ahead of him (Reese, Snider, Robinson, Campanella). Although Snider did not enter the HOF until 1980, 15 years after he retired. I remember Willie Mays saying that Snider deserved to be in the HOF along with him and Mantle.
“Willie, Mickey, and the Duke”
Agree! Long overdue. Gil Hodges not only deserves to be in the HOF but deserves much better treatment by the team he managed to their first World Series – The Mets! As great a player and humanitarian as Jackie Robinson was he was NOT a Met. I’ve always thought the Citifield rotunda should have been dedicated to him. I also have never felt that the Wilpons have gotten behind his election either. Let me say this: If Harold Baines was elected Gil can’t be far behind.
I’ve been a Dodger fan for 71 years and Gil Hodges is truly among the greatest that ever played this game and it’s puzzling that he never could get into the Hall of Fame. I’m sure you can fine many non-Dodger fans that feel the same way I do.
Great article. I became a baseball/Dodger fan late in Gil’s career but still learned to appreciate his skills and agree that he should be in the Hall of Fame. Another Dodger who should be in is Maury Wills. I never could understand why neither is in.
Just a note: The guy Gil replaced as the Dodgers primary first baseman was Jackie Robinson, who moved to second base.
Am I correct that the baseball card pictured is 1961? I remember the picture.
Ah yes, Maury Wills! My wife’s favorite player. Short story. Couple of years ago we were at a spring training game at Camelback and for Glendale it was a chilly, breezy day and I had purchased Dodger windbreaker for my wife as we came prepared for warm temperatures. Around the 3rd inning I saw Maury sitting in the field box seats several rows behind the Dodgers dugout. He was talking with fans so I coaxed my wife into going over. She spent several minutes talking with Maury who autographed her windbreaker which is now a piece of memorabilia that she would dare not wear. She said that Maury was very gracious and seemed pleased that she would come over just to talk with him.
Give this a read, Bum. It’s from spring training 2014. Might even be the spring training you and your wife were at:
https://thinkbluela.com/2014/02/after-64-spring-training-camps-maury-wills-still-enjoys-his-job/
If Maury makes it to camp this year, it will be his 69th spring training camp.
Yes, I think that was the year. We were there mid March.
Thanks for that link. That was before I even knew about your site.
It’s still my dream to get to Camelback one of these years. It’d take something amazing to happen to make it this year but I never give up until it’s too late.
If I had a choice of meeting and talking with one Dodger it would for sure be Maury. I just hope I get there while he’s still going.
It is an awesome experience! My wife and I enjoy going each morning to the workouts even if we do not attend a game. In the afternoons there are minor league games on the back fields. When you decide to go post a note on this site and those who have previously attended can provide you with recommendations, including local restaurants.
Yes, it is Hodges’ 1961 Topps card. I used to love getting “doubles” and “triples” of that one and all of the then “new” Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sadly, there are not many photos of Gil from his LA playing days to choose from, so I thought “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”
Voila.
Also Maury should be in The Hall. He revolutionized the game in the sixties.
I’ve come to think, us old timers, don’t need the HoF to help us remember guys like Carl Furillo, Billy Cox, Andy Pafko, Ralph Branca, Maury Wills, Gil Hodges and others. We’ll never forget them.
True, but HOF recognition is a special honor to which I believe Hodges (and Wills) should be given. And, others walking through Cooperstown should see them enshrined next to other greats of the game.
Unfortunately, we “Old Timers” won’t be here forever. Their memory will fade as we fade away. People like Hodges and Wills deserve to be remembered as greats of the game. Enshrinement in the HOF is the only way to ensure their immortality. Both should be there. They’ve earned it.
Well spoken, all three of you. Different points that really work together. Aside from being a baseball fan, particularly Dodgers, I’m also a history buff. Naturally I combine the two. Still, there surely are many players just short of immortality I don’t know anything about.
I’ve started a campaign to get Gil Hodges into the Hall of Fame. I wrote a detailed article in support of his candidacy and I have a petition going that I hope all readers of this page will consider signing: https://wp.me/P7a04E-579
I recently wrote a lengthy article detailing Gil’s qualifications for the Hall of Fame, and I have a petition going that every one can sign. I hope to submit both to the Golden Era Committee prior to the next vote in 2020. Please consider signing my petition. Here’s a link to the article and the petition: https://wp.me/P7a04E-579
Give “Gil Hodges – A Hall of Fame Life” a read. The author is Mort Zachter. It’s excellent!
I have also been a fan of Gil and the Dodgers many years (65 +) and cannot imagine that he has never been elected. What many overlook is stint as a manager which he always did with dignity. What in the world is the committee looking for? Golden glove despite being a right handed first baseman ……….