In keeping with the theme of celebrating the 50th anniversary of their 1969 World Championship, the New York Mets announced that Gil Hodges Jr., the son of Mets manager and former MLB player Gil Hodges, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the home opener against the Washington Nationals on April 4.
It would have been the elder Hodges’ 95th birthday. A major linchpin to that championship, Ed Kranepool, will catch the first pitch.
Hodges Jr. said of the tribute, “It will be a honor to throw out the first pitch on my dad’s 95th birthday. For me his success as a manager was the way he treated people. He believed in all 25 guys on the roster. Each guy had his role.”
Gil Hodges was the Mets fourth manager. He managed the Mets for four years compiling a record of 330-309. His first year as Mets manager was in 1968 and while the team only went 73-89, it was the best record in their seven years of existence.
The following year he led the “Miracle Mets” to a World Series championship making the Mets the first expansion team to ever win a World Series. They were also the first team to win a championship after finishing at least 15 games below .500 the year before. Hodges was named The Sporting News’ Manager of the Year in 1969.
As a player with the Brooklyn and later Los Angeles Dodgers, Hodges was widely considered one of the best competitors of the 1950s. He was an eight-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner. On August 31, 1950, he became one of only 18 players to hit four home runs in a game.
Hodges was picked up by the Mets in the 1961 expansion draft and proceeded to play for New York for two years despite injuries. He hit the first home run in franchise history in 1962.
Many baseball experts believe Hodges should be in the Hall of Fame. None are more vocal about that oversight than his 1969 players. Hodges finished his career with a slash line of .273/.359/.487 and a WAR of 44.8. His number 14 was retired by the Mets in 1973. He was enshrined in the Mets’ Hall of Fame in 1982.
