Former New York Mets catcher Ron Hodges passed away on Friday at the age of 74. Hodges died at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after a short illness, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said.
Hodges spent all 12 seasons of his major league career with the Mets. The Virginia native was drafted in the second round of the 1972 draft by the Mets.
Hodges made his big league debut on the 1973 Mets team that went to the World Series. He stayed with the Mets through the 1984 season.
The left-handed hitter slashed .240/.342/.322 with 19 home runs and more walks (224) than strikeouts (217) in 666 games.
He is survived by wife Peggy; sons Riley, Gray, Nat and Casey; sisters Aubrey, Carmen, Pat and Donna; and two grandchildren.
