Vin Scully: My thoughts on Gil Hodges

LA Dodgers' website ^ | November 29th, 2021 | Vin Scully

[Hebrews 11:6]

Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully penned the following essay on Gil Hodges, who is a candidate on the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Golden Days Era Ballot. The 10-name Golden Days Era Committee ballot features candidates whose primary contribution to the game came from 1950-69. A 16-member committee is scheduled to meet on Sunday to discuss each candidate’s credentials for enshrinement, with any one candidate needing 12 votes to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

April 18, 1950. It was Opening Day and my first day working as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers broadcast team. That afternoon, the Dodgers lost to the Phillies 9-1 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Playing first base that afternoon for the Dodgers was an imposing figure wearing number 14 -- Gil Hodges.

Over the next 12 seasons, I had the privilege of watching Gil every day as he consistently played a lead role on those Dodgers ballclubs. Whether it was his clutch hitting driving in runs, his defensive prowess at first base, or his quiet, yet effective, leadership on the field and in the clubhouse, Gil stood out as not only one of the game’s finest first basemen but also as a great American and an exemplary human being, someone who many of us were in awe of because of his spiritual strength. I often heard Dodgers players refer to Gil as a “saint.”

The son of an Indiana coal miner, Gil played one game for the Dodgers in 1943 at the age of 19 before enlisting in the U.S. Marines and serving our nation in World War II. He participated valiantly in the Pacific campaign, earning a Bronze Star for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa. He returned to the Dodgers in May 1947 and played an important role in one of the game’s most significant accomplishments -- the integration of Jackie Robinson into the Major Leagues.

Jackie dealt with relentless racial discrimination and unprovoked attacks from opposing teams and fans throughout his career. It was so painful to see for so long, and it would make you shudder. Gil was always there to protect Jackie as the unassuming, yet effective, peacekeeper on the field. While Jackie was the target of many on-the-field skirmishes, Gil was able to defuse many more of them. Their relationship was special. I remember a game when the Dodgers were playing the Cardinals in old Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. There was a high foul ball by the first-base stands and Gil went over to make a play, and Jackie came over to back him up. Someone threw a whiskey bottle out of the upper deck in an attempt to hit Jackie. Thankfully, the bottle landed right between the two of them. I remember Gil patting Jackie on the back as if to say, “Hey, you’re not alone. I’m with you.”

Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges of the Dodgers
meet General Douglas MacArthur in 1951. AP

Gil’s support for Jackie and the Robinson family was not limited to just the playing field. The Hodges family supported the Robinsons and did whatever was needed to help them during difficult times, including grocery shopping for the Robinson family while the Dodgers were in Florida for Spring Training at a time in the South when, sadly, African Americans were not allowed to shop in many of the nearby markets. Everything Gil did for Jackie and his family was done quietly and without any fanfare or attention drawn to himself. At Gil’s funeral in 1972, a sobbing Jackie told Gil’s son Gil Jr., “Next to my son’s death, this is the worst day of my life.”

I was thrilled to recently learn that Gil, once again, is on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame as a nominee on the Golden Days Era committee, which votes on Dec. 5.

While statistics, records, and awards are used as the primary measurements of success for determining those elected, the Hall’s voting criteria also includes consideration for the “integrity, sportsmanship, and character” of each nominee. When one combines Gil’s impressive and consistent play on the field, his innovative managerial approach and leadership of the New York Mets culminating in the greatest upset in baseball history in 1969, and his unwavering commitments to his faith, family, country, and social justice, you have the rare instance of the ideal candidate. Hall of Fame voters have long used the “integrity, sportsmanship, and character” clause to exclude nominees for a host of committed transgressions. It seems only logical for voters to use that same clause in the affirmative to consider nominees who embodied those positive virtues.

I am often asked who the best ballplayer was that I watched during my broadcasting career. In looking back over my 67 years behind the microphone, I was truly blessed to watch firsthand so many of the all-time greats performing at their very best on the biggest stages in the game’s history. It is truly impossible for me to single out just one player. However, in terms of the players I watched who performed at a high level on the playing field, but at an even higher level off the field in how they lived and carried out their lives, my response is an easy one -- Gil Hodges.

(Vin Scully appears in a new documentary film on Gil Hodges titled, “Soul of a Champion: The Gil Hodges Story.” The 30-minute film can be streamed for free at www.gilhodgesfilm.com)

[ifinnegan]

Thanks.

[Hebrews 11:6]

He was certainly memorable.

[Vigilanteman]

Gil Hodges was a fine gentleman and great ballplayer as this article points out. Phil Rizzuto, who had a lower batting average in an era dominated by batters, was less of ballplayer in every statistical category and was put in the Hall of Fame in 1994, simply because he played for the Yankees and not the Dodgers.

[Jolla]

“Once they moved, they were dead to me.”

I like the old Brooklyn joke:

If you had Hitler, Tojo and O’Malley in a room and gun with two bullets who would you shoot?

O’Malley, two times.

[foreverfree]

bump

[Luke21]

Gil managed the 1969 Amazing Mets, a worthy achievement and title winning team.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I can never escape comparing Gil with his last Dodger manager, Walter Alston.

[Inyo-Mono]

I saw a few Dodgers games when they played at the Coliseum (for old guys like me, do you remember the high left field screen/fence?). Those were great times: Gil Hodges; Sandy Koufax; Duke Snider; Don Demeter; Wally Moon; Ron Fairly; Charlie Neal; just to name a few.

I remember that and Don Drysdale rookie Frank Howard too.

[willk]

My mom was a big baseball fan. She saw all the greats like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. When she married my dad they moved to California from New York. But she never forgave the Dodgers for moving to LA. She spent her remaining years rooting for any team playing against the Dodgers. I remember her listening on the transistor radio in the evenings to Vin Scully’s play by play and telling me he was the best. I became a Dodgers fan around the age of 13. To me, Vin Scully was the voice of baseball. Even I remember the name of Gil Hodges though he was before my time. If Vin Scully says Gil Hodges should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame then it should be.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The irony is that Vinnie grew up a Giants' fan, and Mel Ott was his idol.

Scully makes an interesting point I've not heard elsewhere: character cuts both ways. I find his argument persuasive.

[vigilence]

...Drysdale, Peronoski, Sherry, Roseboro, Gilliam...man, those were good times. My first major league game was in 1959 when we defeated the White Sox. Also saw the Reds, Braves and Giants. Wally Moon made a living fading a 9 iron like fly over the left field screen batting left handed on a regular basis. Saw Frank Torre of the Braves silence a drunk heckler behind the screen with a wicked liner into the screen for a double that would have hit the heckler if the screen hadn’t been there. Used to have a crystal radio set as a boy and would listen to Vin and Jerry on KFI when I was supposed to be asleep. Maybe that’s why I got such poor grades in school? Nah!

[Rockingham]

My uncle Phil was Gil Hodges’ paper boy in Brooklyn. He describes Hodges and his family in glowing terms.

[Roccus]

PING!!!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Hard to find anyone who has anything negative to say.

[hattend]

Thanks! Good luck Gil!

[Hebrews 11:6]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GIL HODGES, HALL OF FAMER, joining teammates Duke, Roy, Jackie, PeeWee, Sandy, Don and Tommy.

[HKMk23]

YYYEESSSSSSS!

You got to know Vin scully’s advocacy had quite a bit to do with that. Makes me kind of Misty thinking of all the times I spent listening to him call Dodger games back in the 70s. When ol’ Vin finally kicks the bucket I think the Earth is going to fall off of its axis and spiral down the nearest black hole. Vin Scully is just one of those Earthly fixtures that just seems indispensable. A saint in his own right, and an absolute Titan of Major League broadcasting; I can’t imagine this place without him.

[Roccus]

Thanks for the up-date.

First they name a bridge for him, then they finally put him in the HoF..’bout time!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Someone has to call heaven's ballgames.

[Robert DeLong]

Yes indeed, good news. 🙂