Gil Hodges (2022)


Date of Birth: 4/4/1924
Date of Death: 4/2/1972
Birthplace: Princeton, Indiana
College: St. Joseph’s College (2 years)

Gil Hodges was a top athlete in high school and he won seven varsity letters. He participated in baseball, football, basketball, and track.

Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers

Hodges signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers on September 6, 1943. He played in just 1 game with them in 1943. He spent 1944 and 1945 in the military. When he returned to the Dodgers in 1946, he was sent to the minor leagues for a year.

Hodges played in 28 games with the Dodgers in 1947 and he had 12 hits. He had one at-bat in one game in the postseason and he had no hits. The next year, his first full season in the majors, he batted .249 in 134 games. He finished the 1948 season with 120 hits, 18 doubles, and 70 RBIs.

Hodges improved in his second season, batting .285 in 156 games in 1949. He had 170 hits, 23 doubles, 23 home runs, 64 strikeouts to 66 walks, and 115 RBIs. In the postseason, he had 4 hits in 17 at-bats in 5 games. He had similar numbers in 1950, when he batted .283 in 153 games. He finished the season with 159 hits, 26 doubles, 32 home runs, 113 RBIs, and 73 strikeouts to 73 walks.

Hodges led major league baseball in games played in 1951. He had 156 hits, 25 doubles, 40 home runs, 103 RBIs, 99 strikeouts to 93 walks, and a .268 batting average in 158 games. The following year, he had a career high 107 walks (to 90 strikeouts). He finished the 1952 season with 129 hits, 27 doubles, 32 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .254 batting average in 153 games. In 7 postseason games, he had no hits in 21 at-bats.

Hodges batted .302 in 1953. He had 157 hits, 22 doubles, 31 home runs, and 122 RBIs in 141 games. He played well in the postseason, having 8 hits, including a home run, in 22 at-bats in 6 games.

In 1954, Hodges led the NL in games played. It was probably his best season, with career highs in hits, home runs, RBIs, and batting average. He batted .304 with 176 hits, 23 doubles, 42 home runs, and 130 RBIs in 154 games. The following year, he had 158 hits, 24 doubles, 27 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .289 batting average in 150 games. In the postseason, he had 7 hits and 5 RBIs in 24 at-bats in 7 games.

Hodges batted .265 in 1956. He had 146 hits, 29 doubles, 32 home runs, and 87 RBIs in 153 games. He had 7 hits, including 2 doubles and a home run, and 8 RBIs in 23 at-bats in 7 games in the postseason in 1956.

Hodges won his first Gold Glove in 1957. As a first baseman in 150 games, he made 115 assists, 115 double plays, 1,317 putouts, and 14 errors. He also played well offensively, finishing the season with 173 hits, 28 doubles, 27 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a .299 batting average.

Hodges' batting average dropped to .259 in 1958, as he struggled a bit at the plate. He had 123 hits, 22 home runs, and 64 RBIs in 141 games. He played well defensively, earning a second Gold Glove. He made 69 assists, 134 double plays, 907 putouts, and 8 errors in 122 games at first base.

Hodges had another strong season defensively in 1959, winning his third Gold Glove. He had 66 assists, 77 double plays, 891 putouts, and 8 errors in 113 games. Offensively, he had 114 hits, 19 doubles, 25 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .276 batting average in 124 games. In the postseason, he had 9 hits in 23 at-bats in 6 games.

Hodges played fewer games in 1960 and 1961. In 101 games in 1960, he had 39 hits and a .198 batting average, and in 1961, he batted .242 with 52 hits in 109 games.

New York Mets

On October 10, 1961, the New York Mets took advantage of the expansion draft to acquire Hodges. However, he didn't play in many games with them. He played in 54 games in 1962 and he batted .252. The following season, he played in only 11 games.

Hodges was traded to the Washington Senators on May 23, 1963, but he never played with them.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Gold Glove (3 times)
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial award
  • Led NL in games played (2 times)

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Hodges include:

  • 2,071 games played
  • 1,921 hits
  • 295 doubles
  • 370 home runs
  • 1,274 RBIs
  • 1,137 strikeouts to 943 walks
  • .273 batting average
  • .359 on-base percentage
  • .846 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Hodges at first base include:

  • 1,908 games played
  • 1,281 assists
  • 1,614 double plays
  • 15,344 putouts
  • 126 errors
  • .992 fielding percentage

Career postseason statistics for Hodges include:

  • 39 games played
  • 131 at-bats
  • 35 hits
  • 21 RBIs
  • 22 strikeouts to 17 walks
  • .267 batting average
  • .349 on-base percentage
  • .761 OPS

Post Playing Career

Hodges was the manager of the Washington Senators from 1963 through 1967. He wasn't very successful with the team, leading them to 321 wins to 444 losses.

In 1968, Hodges was hired to manage the New York Mets. He stayed in that position through 1971, and he was very successful with the team. He led them to 339 wins and 309 losses and to a World Series win in 1969. That season, he led the team to 100 wins and 62 losses.

Hodges died from a heart attack in 1972 at the age of 47.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Gil Hodges
Baseball Reference - Gil Hodges

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