Gil Hodges

[kramer_47]

I'm new to this site but I've read alot of the older posts. I'm a very big Brooklyn Dodgers fan especially Gil Hodges, I feel he belongs in the hall of fame, He was the best first baseman of the 1950's plus he was a pretty good hitter. Pound for pound he was a better first baseman then Tony Perez plus percentage wise he beat him in every hitting category but one batting average by 6 points. He knocked in 100 runs 7 years in a row and averaged 30 home runs for 11 years from 1949-59. He was considered for player of the decade by the Sporting News for the 1950's along with 8 others currently in the hall of fame. The hall of fame isn't only on stats, sportsmanship and character counts too, Gil has all the qualifications, now all we need is for the 90 or so living hall of famers to see it.
Also does anyone know where Jerry Stern is, he mentioned in a post about Hilda Chester that he has her autograph on a program well I also have her autograph on a program and would like to get in touch with him.

[donzblock]

Jerry Stern disappeared apparently after Jaykay sent him some hot dogs to pay off a bet. The whereabouts of Mr. Stern constitute perhaps the greatest mystery on this forum, and any information leading to the location of his corpus would be greatly appreciated. I am under the impression that Jaykay has offered a substantial reward for such info.

[DODGER DEB]

Wasn't Jerry last noticed deep down in OUR Rotunda with his incredible hotdogs (no doubt a brilliant green by now).. Has anyone (Jaykay) checked there recently? Come to think of it, WE haven't had a recent report on anything underneath OUR Rotunda. Are OUR lightblubs all accounted for? You are falling down on your job, Jaykay! :waving

c.

[jaykay]

There is, perhaps, too much to report, which explains my reluctance to broach such subjects and to fervently wish that none of our old timers would bring them up. But, alas..... I will be uncharacteristically brief.

To the best of my knowledge, the Rotunda, the lightbulbs and the green (now yellow) hotdogs remain in acceptable physical condition. I have not visited since August of last year, after James Hoffa resigned as caretaker to pursue studies for the clergy. Despite my protestations, he chose his own replacement, a man named Vic Voydock, with whom I have exchanged a few less-than-friendly e-mails concerning his own ideas as to how the place should be run. [Are you ready to start making connections? Have you a bit of spare time? Then keep reading.]

A photograph of Vic Voydock, in the company of JERRY STERN, can be seen at
www.multicians.org/reunion-04/pages/voydock-stern.html

A master of disguise as well as obfuscation, Stern, looking completely different, can be seen and heard at his own Web site,
www.jerrystern.com
where he recounts his many achievements in state government (Pennsylvania - more about this coming up) without acknowledging, like the Jerry Stern we fondly remember, that there is the slightest possibility of his having been in error - about anything. I know, I know: I should talk. But I digress.

His most recent appearance on this forum occurred on 9-14-02. Apparently, he then began an unsuccessful academic career at Indiana University, where he still responds to e-mails sent to
www.atasection.org/teaching-consultants.html
(sixth name down - the address is there)

So what have we thus far? A current, but not native, Pennsylvanian, associated with higher education. By golly, if you log on to
www.spondee.net/poets/SternJerry.htm
you will discover not only a sample of his poetics, but another startling similarity to the past Poet Laureate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. As for John Faragher, the name speaks for itself.




I draw no conclusions. Stern is shifty, as I learned the hard way many moons ago. After consultation with eminent professionals in the institution in which I reside, we unanimously agree that it is time for Professor Block to step forward and reveal what he knows. If the worst has indeed come to pass, I can only commend Stern for his choice of an unparalleled role model. And if you are one of Stern's unequivocal admirers, let the record show that he is already preparing his next move, should political opposition decide to deal harshly with him. To wit:
************************************************** *******

President creates Coordinator of Anti-Spyware Operations position
September 06, 2005
The President of the Association of Shareware Professionals, Jessica Dewell, has named Jerry Stern, to the newly created position of Coordinator of anti-spyware operations for the association. The new position will be responsible for drafting position papers and policy statements and coordinating anti-spyware efforts on behalf of the association.

Mr. Stern operates Science Translations Software, and also serves as the Editor of ASPects, the association's monthly newsletter. He has recently launched a new web site, SpySafety.com .

Prior to accepting the appointment to his new position, Mr. Stern had prepared and submitted written testimony to the US Federal Trade Commission's workshop on spyware, and recently submitted a response on behalf of the ASP to the Anti-Spyware Coalition.
************************************************** *******

Because of my reputation, I feel compelled to insist that everything in this posting is factual. I know that Dodger Deb and kramer will appreciate my promptness in furnishing the information they requested.

Professor Block.....what have you heard?

[donzblock]

This astonishing tour de farce from Jaykay reveals a side of him heretofore shrouded in mystery; from the batcave "institution" (a.k.a. "The Rotunda") where he is "incarcerated," he periodically issues forth to do battle against the Jerry Sterns of this world, and he has done the world a great service by uncovering the numerous secret identities that this notorious shape shifter has assumed during his evil career. Mr. "Stern" must now set up shop elsewhere, acquire a new identity, and start all over again. The battle, of course, goes on, but the ability of Mr. Stern to wreak havoc on civilization has for the moment been severely crippled.

As you probably realize by now, Mr. Stern's pet project has been to keep Gil Hodges out of the Hall of Fame. I do not believe I am compromising Jaykay's efforts to thwart him by revealing to the world this dastardly plot. Nor do I fear that Jaykay will in any way be compromised by the revelations that will follow, revelations that will clarify how Jaykay fights fire with fire, so to speak.

[The Real McCoy]

I think it's obvious to all that Jerry Stern remains comfortably ensconced in the Palm Resturant hard by his Second Avenue office/shrine to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Of equal interest, at least to me, is jaykay's commentary, which, with all due respect and reverence, could be adjudged akin to the Collyer Brothers commenting on Judge Crater.

[DODGER DEB]

Do I dare suggest that Jerry Stern's body has somehow been taken over by the infamous and ever frozen Ted Williams, and that is why he is fighting OUR attempts to have GIL enshrined in the Hall of Fame?

c.

[55 chmps]

About Hodges, yeah he definitely belongs in the Hall. I believe when he retired, he hit the most home runs for a right handed hitter in National League history.

[KCGHOST]

About Hodges, yeah he definitely belongs in the Hall. I believe when he retired, he hit the most home runs for a right handed hitter in National League history.

At the time of his retirement Hodges was second in NL HR's by a RHB with 370. He trailed the very active Willie Mays by 36. He also trailed four LHB's for the NL HR crown.

[tonypug]

Is it true that the recent book Praying for Gil Hodges was supposed to be titled Praying for Jerry Stern but was changed for political reasons?

[tonypug]

I'm new to this site but I've read alot of the older posts. I'm a very big Brooklyn Dodgers fan especially Gil Hodges, I feel he belongs in the hall of fame, He was the best first baseman of the 1950's plus he was a pretty good hitter. Pound for pound he was a better first baseman then Tony Perez plus percentage wise he beat him in every hitting category but one batting average by 6 points. He knocked in 100 runs 7 years in a row and averaged 30 home runs for 11 years from 1949-59. He was considered for player of the decade by the Sporting News for the 1950's along with 8 others currently in the hall of fame. The hall of fame isn't only on stats, sportsmanship and character counts too, Gil has all the qualifications, now all we need is for the 90 or so living hall of famers to see it.
Also does anyone know where Jerry Stern is, he mentioned in a post about Hilda Chester that he has her autograph on a program well I also have her autograph on a program and would like to get in touch with him.
Gil Hodges is also my favorite player. I have fought several battles on multiple forums to further his cause.It's good to have another pro Hodges fan on board. His detractors go only with statistics, and as you said there is more to a player then just stats. Welcome aboard I hope you enjoy the ride.

[kramer_47]

Tony nice to meet you, you're my man, thank you for welcoming me aboard.
Gil is one of a few that should be in the hall of fame that has been neglected for years now. I want to educate these hall of famers on the oldtimers committee that never saw the best first baseman of the 1950's that he belongs to be along side them in the hall of fame. I have been researching for years on Gil and have come up with a few pretty good arguments, the Tony Perez one is a real good one. I also was at the Ted Williams museum in Florida and spotted a cover of a 1960 Sporting news that had Gil and 8 future hall of famers on the cover up for player of the decade in the 1950's. If he was mentioned then by writers that saw him play with those 8 great players then why is not rated up there with them now. We need 8 more votes in 2007, lets pray that these voters see the light finally. If you want to see any of the info I have please email me at kramer_47@hotmail.com or message me here.

[johnny]

Can we also look at the totality of his career to include the masterful job of managing the miracle mets of 69!

[DODGER DEB]

I have been giving much thought to just exactly what WE could do to help get GIL elected to the HOF in 2007, so I am very glad you posted a thread on this very subject, kramer_47. Everything you said about GIL is absolutely true, but, of course to make 2007 "the year it finally happens", WE will need the help of every loyal and true BROOKLYN DODGER fan, as well as many NY METS fans. BTW, nice to add another real BROOKLYN DODDGER FAN to OUR group...welcome!

WE could start a letter writing campaign (or email), as WE did with the Vero Beach Post. My sense is that the best way to get to these HOF's is to make OUR case on an individual basis....and keep making it, all through this year.

I want to check with a few people and see if there is any specific agenda set-up, or one that will be set-up, to help this process along. One person I will call is JOAN HODGES, as her input is important. When I last spoke with her, in November, we did talk some about this and I must tell you she absolutely refuses to give up. She told me to just keep praying that 2007 will be the year. There are also a few others I want to touch base with and see what, if anything, can be done to help this along. A UNITED effort could MAKE THIS HAPPEN! GIL will no doubt be the last of OUR Players elected to the HOF, so WE must do all WE can to see that it does happen!

To all of OUR loyal members, I would like your comments and input, along with any ideas, that WE could explore!

c.

[kramer_47]

Thank you Dodger Deb nice to meet you, I'm very happy I found this site with other Brooklyn Dodgers fanatics like me. I started collecting again 30 years ago by trying to get every piece of Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia I could find, everything from cards, yearbooks, programs, pictures, hats etc, and I'm still collecting today. But my main goal through the years was Gil Hodges, everything and anything Gil, but I still love and collect all Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia.
Your post is a very well written and thought out, we need you as our leader.
I propose you as committee chairwoman to lead us in getting Gil into the HOF in 2007. We really don't have alot of time, we have alot of work to do, the vote is about a year away. I have a few things to include in letters to the HOF committee, we can probably only reach them care of the HOF because most HOF don't accept mail at there home address. There are some other sites out there that I've been to that are about getting Gil elected. I use to get email from Joe D'Agostin whose email address the last I heard was bklynbum14@hotmail.com. There are alot of people out there that saw Gil play including writers that believe he should already be in the HOF, Bill Madden from the New York Daily News writes an article every 2 years now about how Gil deserves to be in the HOF. Now we have to convince the younger HOF who never saw Gil play that he belongs just like they do. It is too bad that Ted Williams blocked Gil for so many years to get his friends and other HOF friends in by making deals. Thinking about it Gil should have been elected by the writers, he came closer then anyone else, I don't know what those other 10% of the writers that didn't vote for him were thinking. Gil was the premier, the best, the greatest 1st baseman of the 1950's. All the other great Dodgers from those great teams are in but without Gil that team wouldn't be as good as it was for those 10 years. He was 2nd in Hr and RBI in the national league in the 1950's, how many runners were out at 1st base because of Gil cheating off the base so quick that he almost always got the call.
I met Gil many times when I was a kid because my uncle Pete worked at Ebbets field as a special cop and became friends with Gil. I never had the pleasure of meeting Joan Hodges, I saw her one time at a girls high school fast pitch softball game watching her grand daughter play 1st base and get a few hits while wearing number 14. I just thought I'd mention that Gil's grand daughter was a chip off the old block. Deb tell Joan we are ready to do everything we can to get Gil those 8 votes he didn't get the last time and get him in the HOF where he belongs.

[DODGER DEB]

Keep GIL HODGES front and center this year....


http://i15.ebayimg.com/01/i/06/01/9e/3f_1.JPG


From an eBay listing.

c.

[kramer_47]

We also have to take into consideration that Gil played in the era of 8 teams. When they expanded first in the american league in 1961 then the national league in 1962 you all of a sudden had 100 players that would have been in triple AAA if not for expansion. Gil won the first 3 gold gloves from 1957-59, if the award existed before 1957 Gil probably would have won from 1950 on. Gil is one of 3 players from 1900 to hit 4 homers in a game and also hit for the cycle the other 2 are Lou Gehrig and Chuck Klein. When Gil retired he was the top right handed hitter of home runs with 370 he was number 10 overall, He led all national league hitters with 14 grand slam homers Hank Aaron finally tied him with 14 in 1972.
Hank was in his 19th season when he tied Gil, Gil did it in 17 years, This shows what a clutch hitter and rbi guy Gil was. Gil batted from 4th through 7th in the Dodgers lineup protecting Duke, Campy, Jackie, and Carl alot of times Gil was being protected by Billy Cox, Sandy Amoros or whoever was batting 6th 7th or 8th. This shows Gil went unprotected quite a bit and still produced 7 100 rbi seasons in a row 1949-55, from 1949-59 he averaged 282 batting average, 30 home runs and 100 rbi. He was the best fielding 1st baseman in the national league, he played on 8 all star teams, he had great sportsmanship he never argued with an umpire and Gil and Pee Wee were the 2 Dodgers recognized as helping Jackie Robinson the most. Here are the rules the voters are suppose to go by when considering a player for the HOF, Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. Gil had all of these, He was the best 1st baseman of his era, he was the best when it came to integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributing to his team, it's long overdue lets show these members of the oldtimers committee that he belonged in the HOF long ago and lets correct a long time wrong and put Gil in the HOF in 2007.

[johnny]

similar to the gold gloves comment, could we also say that if the manager of the year award existed in 1969 he would have been a top contender -if not the odds on favorite- for that honor?

[kramer_47]

Johnny I think Gil has enough as a player, bringing up the manager thing doesn't work they either vote you in as a player or manager not a combination of both. He had 3 good years as a manager with the Mets that isn't enough. I think we have to emphasize what a good player he was and what a big part of all those great Dodgers teams he was.

[johnny]

Well then your going to be slogging uphill. With the arguments presented to date, without looking at the complete package that Mr. Hodges brought to the table it makes it very difficult.
But hey, good luck in your endeavors.

[stan opdyke]

Any of you who remember the tv show "What's My Line" may be interested to know that Gil was a guest on the show. Even better, Gil's appearance has been preserved and is available from at least one person I know of who trades old tv broadcasts. I don't have the recording, but it is good to know that it is available.

Stan from Tacoma

[kramer_47]

How do you get the tape Stan, I saw that show, please let us know your friends address. Just to let you know my cousins name is Opdyke, thank you for the info on Gil.

[stan opdyke]

How do you get the tape Stan, I saw that show, please let us know your friends address. Just to let you know my cousins name is Opdyke, thank you for the info on Gil.

Kramer47, I have sent you a private message with the info. Anyone else who is interested should send me a private message and I will respond.

[DODGER DEB]

UPDATE:

Just to let you know that I spoke with Joan Hodges last week and she so appreciates anything, and everything, WE can do to help make her dream a reality. She is absolutely amazing.....she has never given up, and continues to believe that GIL will make it into the HOF in 2007.

There are still a few people that I want to discuss this with before laying out some kind of a plan for this year. Hopefully by mid-February I will have more to report, although I must tell you, there simply aren't many options open to US.

What I am doing is assembling a list of names and addresses of all the HOF members that will be voting. WE need to write each of them, and then keep writing them, all through 2006. WE need to educate them about GIL, the great ballplayer and what he brought to OUR great BROOKLYN team, and about GIL the man, whose honesty, integrity and character were ever present and brought so much to this game of BASEBALL that WE all love. Each letter should be "to the point".....WE NEED YOUR VOTE....GIL NEEDS YOUR VOTE! Each letter should be a little different (WE don't want to bore them), but the letters should keep coming from US all year.

I know there are some true BROOKLYN DODGER fans, here and elsewhere, that have some reservations about whether GIL actually belongs in the HOF (I am not one of them). To those I make this point. I ask that you keep in mind that THIS will probably be OUR LAST HURRAH in getting one of OUR OWN into the famed Hall....and that should be an important consideration. I truly believe, on his merit, GIL deserves, and has earned, this honor. Also, if it happens, GIL'S #14 will also be retired, joining OUR others, where it should be.

What WE need are some "creative" ideas here. So, if anyone has any thoughts in this area, please share them. :gt

c.

[kramer_47]

Thank you Deb for the hard work you are putting in on getting Gil elected in 2007. I have alot of information I'm putting together, I know we can overcome the 8 or so votes he needs, I'm doing comparisons and looking at as many books and sites i can. The one big stumbling block we'll have is getting through to these hall of famers, they return mail out of hand without even looking at it because they think they are autograph requests. I thought sending them mail through the hall of fame was a good idea but I read this on the HOF page.
FAN SUPPORT: Fans wishing to voice their opinion in support of their favorite candidates may do so in two ways: by sending a single letter to:

Hall of Fame Veterans Committee
Post Office Box 590
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Or by logging on to baseballhalloffame.org and sending an e-mail. The Hall of Fame does not forward petitions to the voting members, but makes all correspondence known to any interested voting members, as well as to the Screening Committee members and Historical Overview Committee members.
We will have to figure out a way to get most of them mail, some do accept at there home address, I'm going to email Bill Madden who is a supporter of Gil maybe he has some suggestions.

[tonypug]

We also need to hear from other fans who support this, for their help. Lets use this thread for support of Gil, not to debate whether or not he belongs. Their are plenty of other threads to debate whether or not he should be elected.

[stan opdyke]

Thanks Bob for the mailing address for the Vet's Committee. I will be writing to that address to support Gil's induction into Cooperstown.

[kramer_47]

You're quite welcome Stan it is nice to have you aboard. I visited your friends site he has a very nice selection of oldtime audio and video. Thank you very much.

[DODGER DEB]

We also need to hear from other fans who support this, for their help. Lets use this thread for support of Gil, not to debate whether or not he belongs. Their are plenty of other threads to debate whether or not he should be elected.

I agree with you 100%, tonyp!

c.

[kramer_47]

I found this Sporting News on display at the Ted Williams museum in Florida a few years ago. I called up the Sporting News and they sent me copies of the cover. It is from August 1960 and they had the players on the cover they were considering for player of the decade for the 1950's. Well Gil Hodges is on the cover with 8 others all in the Hall of Fame now, they are Williams, Rizzuto, Mays, Mantle, Robinson, Berra, Banks, Spahn and Hodges. If this isn't an endorsement for Gil for the Hall of Fame by the biggest and best Sports paper ever, all those writers saw him play, what is.

[DODGER DEB]

This feature story in a March 1957 Sporting News on GIL HODGES....

http://i19.ebayimg.com/04/i/06/21/ca/44_12.JPG

From an eBay listing.

c.

[kramer_47]

Thank you Deb that is a very nice piece. As a big collecter of everything Gil Hodges, where did you find that, I'd love to get a copy of that Sporting News.

[kramer_47]

Here is a picture of Gil and Pee Wee signing autographs for the kids.

[kramer_47]

I had this magazine from Sept 1952 in my collection, it has a great cover and alot of good stories. One of the stories was " What's Happened to Al Gionfriddo?", he seemed to disappear after that great catch in 1947 WS, well he was still bouncing around Dodgers farm system in 1952 at double A Ft Worth Cats.

[kramer_47]

Here is a nice picture of Gil from Ebay in 1955 after he hit a home run and he is being greeted by his teammates.

[kramer_47]

Here's Gil in a rare pose with a fielders glove on I got it from ebay.

[theAmazingMet]

Here's Gil in a rare pose with a fielders glove on.
Even rarer cause he is wearing the hated LA on his cap, and not the B which should still be worn by the players in the Dodgers organization! They should have never moved, but money is the root of all evil.

[kramer_47]

Here's Gil, Carl, Peewee, Walt and another guy after our glorious win in 1955. I got this from Ebay.

[kramer_47]

Even rarer cause he is wearing the hated LA on his cap, and not the B which should still be worn by the players in the Dodgers organization! They should have never moved, but money is the root of all evil.

I know but it wasn't Gil's fault he still lived on Bedford Ave.

[DODGER DEB]

As I noted in the OUR BROOKLYN DODGER HISTORY thread, I must ask that you identify, on each posted photo, WHERE you got it from (the source).

Anyone who has posted any photos should go back and put the identifying tag on it.

Please keep this in mind when posting any future photo, story, or article.

Thank you.

c.

[bobw357]

Image is from a color slide in my personal collection:

[kramer_47]

Here is a great picture of Gil I got from Ebay.

[johnny]

Here's Gil, Carl, Peewee, Walt and another guy after our glorious win in 1955. I got this from Ebay.
I wonder if the fellow in the middle is the Clubhouse Attendent called 'The Senator' aka John Griffin.
One of the Dodger Old School Faithful is gonna have to have the answer to that one.

But all the pics are fantastic. :clapping

[DODGER DEB]

I wonder if the fellow in the middle is the Clubhouse Attendent called 'The Senator' aka John Griffin.
One of the Dodger Old School Faithful is gonna have to have the answer to that one.

But all the pics are fantastic. :clapping


THAT guy in the middle is none other than the owner himself, the Big "O", a name WE BROOKLYN fans try real hard not to mention here on OUR forum.

c.

[kramer_47]

I bought these phone cards about 11 years ago, they are in my collection. This is a unique item because I think it is the first and only phonecards saluting the Brooklyn Dodgers. Gil was the only player with his own phonecard, I don't know why there wasn't others depicted, it was only a 3 card set.

[LouGehrig]

Everything you said about GIL is absolutely true, but, of course to make 2007 "the year it finally happens", WE will need the help of every loyal and true BROOKLYN DODGER fan, as well as many NY METS fans

I am CERTAIN that you simply made an error when you omitted a most important part of the above quote.

Yes, Dodger Deb, there ARE Yankees fans who want to see Gil Hodges in the HOF.

[DODGER DEB]

I am CERTAIN that you simply made an error when you omitted a most important part of the above quote.

Yes, Dodger Deb, there ARE Yankees fans who want to see Gil Hodges in the HOF.

But, of course, Lou! My mistake. Thank you for reminding me!

c.