Blue cap tip to Phil Mushnick for pointing out in last Sunday’s column that Keith Olbermann had been on a Gil Hodges kick.
I’m actually writing this last Sunday as I’m away on business. So let’s give another blue cap tip to Media Goon for not only minding the store but also for standing in as Daddy an event last night with my kids. Thanks MG.
I know Keith Olbermann tends to make emotions run high, but whatever you think of him on TV, he has a great baseball blog.
Hodges’ career spanned 20 calendar years, but he only played regularly from 1948 to 1959. In “his” era, Hodges was second in MLB in homers (344, to Duke Snider’s 354), second in RBI (tied with Berra at 1136, behind Musial’s 1226), fourth in Runs, and seventh in Hits. Hodges is often dismissed as a “Home Park Homer Hitter.” In fact in his ten years at Ebbets Field he averaged only 4.60 homers a year more in Brooklyn than on the road. For comparison, Duke Snider, in the Hall since 1980, averaged 4.56 homers a year more in Brooklyn than on the road.
It is also of note that Hodges hit 27 or more homers in eight consecutive seasons, drove in 102 or more runs seven years in a row, and the first baseman on two World’s Champions and four more NL champs.
Haven’t even mentioned Hodges the manager (1969 Miracle Mets) nor Hodges the Man (I have never, ever talked to anyone who knew him who didn’t revere him.
Thanks to Gil, Tom Seaver reached his full potential. Tom, Eddie, Buddy, Nolan all feel Gil should be in the hall. Don’t know why Fred could not say a public word on behalf of an old Dodger…too late now.