Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Last night, the player who Vin Scully called one of his favorite Dodgers of all time, was honored before the game with the Mets on Saturday night. First, fans at the turnstiles were greeted with their very own Gil Hodges bobblehead, honoring the legendary first baseman’s induction into the Hall of Fame this year.
But perhaps more importantly, it was this night that the Dodgers chose do retire Hodges iconic number 14 in a pregame ceremony.
Typically, the Dodgers do not retire the numbers of ballplayers who are not in the Hall of Fame (Jim Gilliam being the only exception). And it was no different for Hodges. After a long time on the outside looking in, Hodges’ name will finally join baseball’s elite when he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24. He was voted in by the veterans committee.
Best years in Brooklyn
During his 16 years with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Hodges helped the team win World Series titles in 1955 and ’59. He was an eight-time All-Star. From 1949-55, he drove in over 100 runs per season. However, Hodges was in definite decline when the team made the move to LA. Though he played for the LA version of the team from 1958-61, really only the first two years were memorable, and included the Dodgers’ first LA World Series title, in 1959.
Hodges died in 1972 at age 47, when he was managing the Mets. He guided that team to the 1969 World Series title. And, though his WAR is a little on the low side for inclusion in the Hall of Fame, it’s his second career as a manager that perhaps finally tipped the scales in favor of induction.
Family on hand for the ceremony
Hodges became the first player the Dodgers have honored with a jersey retirement since Don Sutton and his No. 20 during the 1998 season. Hodges was represented by his daughter, Irene, and son, Gil Jr., as they each threw out a ceremonial first pitch. Afterward, the Hodges children posed for pictures on the field with Justin Turner and Freddie Freeman.
And perhaps to honor the legacy of Gil Hodges, Freddie Freeman had a two-hit night in the Dodgers’ loss to the Mets. Clearly, the tradition of great first baseman that Hodges began is in very good hands today.
