The Baseball Hall of Fame has officially announced the election of Gil Hodges. It is deeply gratifying to see his contributions to the sport finally receive this ultimate recognition. Thank you for your commitment to correcting this historical oversight.
November 8, 2014
Final supporters
We support the election of Gil Hodges to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is fully qualified under every one of the criteria set forth in the Hall’s own rules:
“Voting shall be based on player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”
Gil Hodges was the premier first baseman in the National League during the Golden Era. He was an outstanding fielder, winning the first three Gold Gloves ever awarded in his final three seasons as a full-time regular. He was a dominant power hitter, topping twenty home runs for eleven consecutive seasons, and he totaled thirty or more homers in six of those years. He was an eight-time All Star. His on-the-field performance was a major factor in seven pennants and two World Championships during his fourteen seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was second in both home runs and runs batted in for the National League during the 1950s, was tenth on the all-time home run list at the close of his final full season, and in third place among right-handed batters.
His career totals might have been even more impressive had he not spent three years in the Pacific with the U.S. Marines during World War II, where he earned the Bronze Star, which is awarded for acts of heroism or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Integrity, sportsmanship and character may be hard to quantify, but Hodges displayed these qualities in abundance. As both a player and manager, he won the universal respect of his teammates, the players he managed, opponents and fans. He was widely recognized as the only player never to be booed in Brooklyn. Hodges made his home in the heart of the community where he played and he was extremely generous with his time, showing a special dedication to youth. Jackie Robinson credited him as a key figure in easing his difficult role as the first African-American in the major leagues in the 20th century. As a first-time manager, Hodges dramatically improved the performance of the expansion Washington Senators. When he returned to New York as manager of the Mets, he brought 25 young men together as a unit that accomplished one of the most improbable and best remembered feats in baseball history: the 1969 World Series title.
His untimely death at age 47 in 1972 robbed baseball and its fans of many more years of his great skills and character. His reputation had endured and grown in the decades since that loss. He has earned one distinction his generations of admirers would dearly love to see become a historic footnote--accumulating more votes than any candidate not yet enshrined in the Hall. His achievements during the quarter-century he did spend in the game have richly earned him a place in baseball’s shrine.
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
November 1, 2014
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 28, 2014
July 26, 2014
The number of signatures is nearing one thousand. This milestone will provide the necessary momentum to present our request to the Hall of Fame committee with greater authority. Please circulate this petition within your networks to ensure we reach our goal promptly.
Reached 100 supporters
June 5, 2014
June 4, 2014
Our campaign is approaching one hundred signatures. I invite you to present this petition to one additional person who values baseball history. Your assistance helps us maintain this momentum.
2,785 Comments
A great player, a great manager as the "Moses" of the storied "Miracle Mets" and a great human being, it's a terrible shame that this man is not enshrined in Cooperstown. Please do the right the thing and celebrate Mr. Hodges home this year.
When Gil Hodges retired, he was in the Top Ten of HR hitters all-time, the leading right-handed HR-hitting slugger in the NL, and second only to Jimmie Foxx among right-handed sluggers. For scores of other reasons, Hodges belongs in the Hall.
To reach six world series in 10 years...and with the Giants actually stealing signals in '51, it should have been 7 in 10 years, the first baseman to handle all those plays should join Jackie, Pee Wee and Campy in the Hall. Thank you. Brian Parrott
People ought to take the time and read his illustrious career, and all he did for baseball as a player, manager and human being. Never on steroids, but always on to playing the game like a champion and gentleman with tremendous talent and integrity.
When you factor in the playing career AND the managerial career, this one's a no brainer. Why can't the two be considered together? I'm no Mets fan, but let's face it. The Miracle Mets was one of sports' all-time great stories, and Hodges was the team's leader.
He should absolutely be in the hof
Long overdue
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The Baseball Hall of Fame has officially announced the election of Gil Hodges. It is deeply gratifying to see his contributions to the sport finally receive this ultimate recognition. Thank you for your commitment to correcting this historical oversight.
November 8, 2014
Final supporters
We support the election of Gil Hodges to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is fully qualified under every one of the criteria set forth in the Hall’s own rules:
“Voting shall be based on player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”
Gil Hodges was the premier first baseman in the National League during the Golden Era. He was an outstanding fielder, winning the first three Gold Gloves ever awarded in his final three seasons as a full-time regular. He was a dominant power hitter, topping twenty home runs for eleven consecutive seasons, and he totaled thirty or more homers in six of those years. He was an eight-time All Star. His on-the-field performance was a major factor in seven pennants and two World Championships during his fourteen seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was second in both home runs and runs batted in for the National League during the 1950s, was tenth on the all-time home run list at the close of his final full season, and in third place among right-handed batters.
His career totals might have been even more impressive had he not spent three years in the Pacific with the U.S. Marines during World War II, where he earned the Bronze Star, which is awarded for acts of heroism or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Integrity, sportsmanship and character may be hard to quantify, but Hodges displayed these qualities in abundance. As both a player and manager, he won the universal respect of his teammates, the players he managed, opponents and fans. He was widely recognized as the only player never to be booed in Brooklyn. Hodges made his home in the heart of the community where he played and he was extremely generous with his time, showing a special dedication to youth. Jackie Robinson credited him as a key figure in easing his difficult role as the first African-American in the major leagues in the 20th century. As a first-time manager, Hodges dramatically improved the performance of the expansion Washington Senators. When he returned to New York as manager of the Mets, he brought 25 young men together as a unit that accomplished one of the most improbable and best remembered feats in baseball history: the 1969 World Series title.
His untimely death at age 47 in 1972 robbed baseball and its fans of many more years of his great skills and character. His reputation had endured and grown in the decades since that loss. He has earned one distinction his generations of admirers would dearly love to see become a historic footnote--accumulating more votes than any candidate not yet enshrined in the Hall. His achievements during the quarter-century he did spend in the game have richly earned him a place in baseball’s shrine.
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
November 1, 2014
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 28, 2014
July 26, 2014
The number of signatures is nearing one thousand. This milestone will provide the necessary momentum to present our request to the Hall of Fame committee with greater authority. Please circulate this petition within your networks to ensure we reach our goal promptly.
Reached 100 supporters
June 5, 2014
June 4, 2014
Our campaign is approaching one hundred signatures. I invite you to present this petition to one additional person who values baseball history. Your assistance helps us maintain this momentum.
2,785 Comments
In the last 3 years I have heard nothing but continuous praise of Gil Hodges not from his family but from baseball fans and fellow players. He truly does deserve it and wouldnt it be fabulous if his wife was able to witness his induction.
A great player, a great manager as the "Moses" of the storied "Miracle Mets" and a great human being, it's a terrible shame that this man is not enshrined in Cooperstown. Please do the right the thing and celebrate Mr. Hodges home this year.
When Gil Hodges retired, he was in the Top Ten of HR hitters all-time, the leading right-handed HR-hitting slugger in the NL, and second only to Jimmie Foxx among right-handed sluggers. For scores of other reasons, Hodges belongs in the Hall.
To reach six world series in 10 years...and with the Giants actually stealing signals in '51, it should have been 7 in 10 years, the first baseman to handle all those plays should join Jackie, Pee Wee and Campy in the Hall. Thank you. Brian Parrott
People ought to take the time and read his illustrious career, and all he did for baseball as a player, manager and human being. Never on steroids, but always on to playing the game like a champion and gentleman with tremendous talent and integrity.
When you factor in the playing career AND the managerial career, this one's a no brainer. Why can't the two be considered together? I'm no Mets fan, but let's face it. The Miracle Mets was one of sports' all-time great stories, and Hodges was the team's leader.
He should absolutely be in the hof
Long overdue
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In the last 3 years I have heard nothing but continuous praise of Gil Hodges not from his family but from baseball fans and fellow players. He truly does deserve it and wouldnt it be fabulous if his wife was able to witness his induction.