Gil Hodges

Gil Hodges was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as a Third Baseman. After serving in the military during World War II, he returned to the Dodgers and was made the backup catcher. He was shortly there after moved to First Base. He was a member of the World Champion 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. Gil hit 370 homeruns in his career, held the National League record for grand slams (14) for several years and is a member of the exclusive club of players that have hit 4 homeruns in a single game.

He was one of the original Mets. He retired from playing and went on to manage the Washington Senators. He was brought back to manage the Mets and led them to World Series Champions in 1969.

There was a biography written by Milton J. Shapiro and Gil wrote a book with Frank Slocum called The Game Of Baseball. There is a bridge between Brooklyn and Rockaway, a park on Carroll St. and a little league field on MacDonald Ave. in Brooklyn named after him.

He has not been voted into the hall of fame although many people feel he deserves to be.