Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 03, 2003
Hodges for Hall?

Jed Roberts pointed out this article on OpinionJournal.com, touting the late Gil Hodges for the Hall of Fame:


They're looking at the wrong man.

The Hall of Fame, that is. While the entire baseball world fixates on the ban on Pete Rose, a true injustice goes almost unheralded: the exclusion of Gil Hodges from baseball's Hall of Fame. The good news is that when members of the newly revamped Veterans Committee cast their ballots this month, they will have the perfect moment to right this wrong.

Over 18 seasons, the Dodger first baseman hit 370 home runs, had seven straight seasons where he drove in more than 100 RBIs, won the National League's first three Golden Gloves for his position and was an eight-time All-Star. He played in seven World Series, where he twice hit game-winning home runs. As a manager, moreover, Hodges led the 1969 Miracle Mets to their first World Championship.

But the Hall of Fame isn't supposed to be just about numbers. Rule No. 5 states that voting should be based not only on the player's stats but on "integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."


Yes, that's what rule 5 says, but I believe it's a moderating condition. So if you have someone on the bubble, maybe his character pushes him over the edge. Of maybe you have someone like Rose, who would otherwise get in, but his poor character keeps him out (as a warning to others).

So it seems to me, the question should be, "Is Hodges on the bubble?" Gil was a regular for the Dodgers from 1948 through 1961. Let's look at the most win shares over that time:


1948-1961 Win Shares
Mickey Mantle 401
Stan Musial 398
Yogi Berra 347
Duke Snider 327
Eddie Mathews 319
Warren Spahn 318
Richie Ashburn 317
Ted Williams 312
Willie Mays 309
Minnie Minoso 277
Robin Roberts 277
Larry Doby 268
Nellie Fox 262
Gil Hodges 260
Eddie Yost 256
Hank Aaron 247
Jackie Robinson 236

Given this list, it's hard to believe that Hodges was on the bubble. Look at Snider. They were teammates all during this time, and Snider put up 60 more win shares. Robinson was out of baseball by 1957, and Hodges barely beats him out. Mantle, Mathews, Mays and Williams beat him handily with fewer seasons played during the time period.

Gil Hodges was a good ballplayer and a great man. If he had lived and was able to establish a dynasty with the Mets, I think he'd have a better chance of getting in as a manager. But I just don't see him as qualifying as a Hall of Famer based on his playing days. It's a nice sentiment, and it's good that someone remembers him well. The veterans committee has certainly made worse picks. But I just don't think he belongs.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:49 PM | Baseball