Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers legend Gil Hodges was among the former players who were elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Days Era Committee.
He was joined by Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva as the selections from a 10-person ballot comprised of candidates whose primary contributions to the game came from 1950-69. Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil were also elected to the Hall of Fame by the Early Baseball Era Committee.
Retired Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has long been an advocate for Hodges’ to be inducted, recently writing on Twitter, “I pray he’ll get into the Hall of Fame.”
Now that Hodges has been elected to the Hall of Fame, Scully shared on Twitter that he is delighted by the news and congratulated all the new members of the Baseball Hall of Fame:
Congratulations to the newest class of Hall of Famers. The selection of Gil Hodges in his final year of eligibility is especially delightful to me. @Dodgers @Mets https://t.co/tcxM0JRmW6
— Vin Scully (@TheVinScully) December 6, 2021
Hodges played a combined 18 seasons with the Dodgers and New York Mets from 1943-63, earning eight All-Star Game selections and three Gold Glove Awards at first base. He spent 12 seasons with Brooklyn before playing four more after the franchise moved to L.A.
During his time with the Dodgers, Hodges batted .274/.360/.488 with 1,884 hits, 361 home runs, 1,254 RBI and 1,088 runs scored. All eight of Hodges’ All-Star Game selections came while he was in Brooklyn, and he is second in Dodgers franchise history in home runs and RBI.
Scully wrote essay in support of Hodges
As part of his continued support to get Hodges into the Hall of Fame, Scully wrote an essay that was published to MLB.com, sharing what made him worthy of nomination.
Scully pointed out Hodges’ statistics and accomplishments on the field that made him worthy alone, but also noted the Hall of Fame uses “integrity, sportsmanship and character” as a criterion for voting.
Off the field, Hodges enlisted into the U.S. Marines to serve during World War II where he earned a Bronze Star for his service and he always helped Jackie Robinson and his family when they needed it.
During games, Hodges served as a “peacekeeper on the field” by helping protect Robinson from racial discrimination and attacks from opposing teams and fans.
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