Good stuff from Centerfield Maz as always in response to my question as to whether or not the Mets would have retired 314 had Gil not died.
You have to understand where the Mets were when Gil arrived and where he got them in 1969. It’s taken for granted today but the Mets had absolutley no chance in anyones eyes to compete let alone win the World Series in 1969. Ask any player who played for him and watch the gleam in their eye and the respect they have for the man. Every player on the 1969 team will credit Hodges with them winning. Remember in these media drenched times any team who achieves success is still compared with the 1969 Mets.
Gil is a man who started 5 man pitching rotations, had the first piching coach who was a former catcher, and used a platoon system no matter what or who you were. Most of all he demanded you give 100% and play like a professional. He would not allow any of the errors or base running mistakes the players of today make. No matter how much money they make.
In 1969 Gil walked out to left field & pulled Cleon Jones out of a game because he didn’t hustle after a ball in the rain. The Mets were getting killed in the game and had already lost the 1st game of the double header.Jones was leading the NL htting at the time.
With Gil at the helm they would have won the 1973 World Series & if he pushed the issue the front office may have aquired another bat & had more success.
Centerfield Maz is a great site for retro stuff about the Mets. Definitely check it out if you know who say John Milner was.
www.metspolice.com
@metspolice
Just to clear something up … Cleon wasn't pulled for a lack of hustle, as is commonly believed. He was under the weather, playing the game with close to the flu. When Gil went to Cleon he asked him if he could give 100%. When Cleon said no, he was too sick, Gil replaced him. He wasn't angry or upset with his All-Star left fielder. But when Cleon admitted in his own way that he wasn't the best player for the team at that moment Gil took him out.