Gil Hodges was one of the most popular players in Dodgers history, an incredible feat considering the talent and characters that graced the team.
After appearing in one Game in 1943, Hodges entered the American Military, losing two years to due service. He returned in 1947, the same year as Jackie Robinson, and they were part of a young team on the rise. Originally a Catcher, Hodges was moved to First Base and was one of the team's power hitters throughout the 1950s.
Hodges began a seven-year streak of All-Star Games in 1949, and from 1949 to 1959, he was a perennial 20 Home Run player, with a pair of two 40 Home Run years (1951 & 1954). He drove in at least 100 Runs in that seven-year streak of All-Stars, and while he never finished higher than seventh in MVP voting, he had nine years where he received voted for the highest individual award in the National League.
The Brooklyn fans loved Hodges, and he loved them back. The Dodgers had been good for a while but had been unable to win the World Series, but it changed in 1955. While Hodges was beginning to decline and had a poor first three Games in the World Series, his bat came alive, and he fittingly had the series-winning RBI and ended the game defensively with an out. This was the only World Series win for the Dodgers in Brooklyn, and many fans were happiest for Hodges.
Hodges still hit Home Runs for the club and was a veteran presence helping the Dodgers reach the 1956 and 1959 World Series, winning the latter, with that coming in Los Angeles. Hodges returned to New York when they took him in the 1962 Expansion Draft, and he left the Dodgers with 361 Home Runs, 1,254 RBI, 1,884 Hits, and an OPS of .847.
After receiving the most votes of any former player not to be elected, Hodges was chosen by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022 by the Veteran’s Committee. The Dodgers responded by retiring his number 14.
It was a long time coming, especially considering he had over 50 percent of the ballot for 11 of his 15 years.
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