Beloved longtime Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges is a Hall of Famer.

Finally.

In what has been the single longest snub in the 82-year history of the Hall of Fame, the Princeton, IN native will finally receive baseball’s highest honor.

On Sunday afternoon, it was announced on social media that Gilbert Raymond Hodges finally received the requisite 75 percent vote through the Hall of Fame’s Golden Days Committee for enshrinement into the sacred Halls of Cooperstown as a member of the Class of 2022.

In addition to his brilliant (now) Hall of Fame baseball career, Hodges was also a highly decorated military veteran, having enlisted in the United States Marine Corps within days of World War II breaking out. He spent much of his military time on Okinawa Island, one of the fiercest battlefronts of the war.

Sadly, Hodges died suddenly of a heart attack on April 2, 1972 – two days shy of his 48th birthday – after playing a round of golf with friends in West Palm Beach, FL.

Hodges had a career batting average of .273 with a career slugging percentage of .487. He had 1,921 hits, 1,274 runs batted in, 1,105 runs scored, 370 home runs, 295 doubles, 48 triples, and 63 stolen bases in 2,071 games over his (now) 18-year MLB Hall of Fame career; 16 of which were as a Dodger – 12 in Brooklyn and four in Los Angeles.

But perhaps what stands out most about Hodges’ longtime Hall of Fame snub is that he was an eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion; this in addition to being a three-time Gold Glove first baseman. His 361 home runs with the Dodgers remain second-most in franchise history behind only (Hall of Famer) Duke Snider‘s 389, and his 1,614 career double plays rank second all-time in the National League behind only Charlie Grimm’s 1,733 and remained an MLB record for a right-handed-fielding first baseman until Chris Chambliss surpassed him in 1984.

Hodges’ 1,281 career assists ranked second in league history to Fred Tenney‘s 1,363 and trailed only Ed Konetchy‘s 1,292 among all right-handed first basemen. When Hodges retired after the 1963 season, he had hit the most home runs (370) ever by a right-handed batter up to that point in time – later surpassed by (Hall of Famer) Willie Mays. He also had the most career grand slams (14) by a National League player – later surpassed by (Hall of Famer) Willie McCovey. Hodges is also one of only 18 players in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully recently had this to say about Gil Hodges’ latest (of many) Hall of Fame considerations:

While statistics, records, and awards are used as the primary measurements of success for determining those elected, the Hall’s voting criteria also includes consideration for the “integrity, sportsmanship, and character” of each nominee. When one combines Gil’s impressive and consistent play on the field, his innovative managerial approach and leadership of the New York Mets culminating in the greatest upset in baseball history in 1969, and his unwavering commitments to his faith, family, country, and social justice, you have the rare instance of the ideal candidate.

Hall of Fame voters have long used the “integrity, sportsmanship, and character” clause to exclude nominees for a host of committed transgressions. It seems only logical for voters to use that same clause in the affirmative to consider nominees who embodied those positive virtues.

“Gil Hodges was the heart and soul of the Brooklyn Dodgers,” the great Jackie Robinson once said of his teammate and close friend.

“He loved his family, he loved his country, and he loved the Dodgers,” Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda once said of Hodges.

If you’ve got a few minutes, check out this YouTube documentary of Hall of Famer Gil Hodges. You will not regret it:

Although it took far longer than it should have, the Golden Days Committee finally got it right. Gil Hodges is finally a Hall of Famer.

Play Ball!

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