Former Mets manager Gil Hodges has once again been denied entry to the Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee.
Boo. The Mets could have really used this today.
I didn’t “get” Gil when I was younger, much like I suspect some of you don’t “get” Seaver or Gooden the way I might…and top of mind how Reyes is more important to you than any of the names I just mentioned.
As I aged and listened to how someone like Tom Seaver speaks about Gil I have come to really appreciate him. One can’t help but wonder what might have been had he stayed at the helm.
Gil died right at the end of spring training, and his body was flown back to New York on the Yankees’ plane! The Mets were scheduled to open in Pittsburgh and Tom let the Mets know there was no way in hell he was taking the mound and missing the funeral.
That year there was a brief labor thing (not sure if techincally it was a strike or what) and the game was canceled, so Tom never had to push the issue.
I’d be curious to hear more about Gil from some of you older Mets fans.