Comments on: The case for Hodges remains as strong as ever http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/05/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Roy Glasser http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/05/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-54031 Roy Glasser Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:56:41 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/#comment-54031 To Matt - not enough power? When he retired he had the second most home runs in major league history for a right handed batter. He led the majors in the 1950s in RBIs. He wasn't flashy, just got the job done. The Dodgers were a great team, but without Hodges steadying the defense, and coming up with the big hits (remember the 7th game of the 1955 World Series where he had the only two RBIs in the game to lead the Dodgers to victory). Not to mention the great job he did in taking the '69 Mets to the World Series as a Manager. His only problem, he died way too soon. If he were alive today, he would be in the Hall of Fame. Out of sight, out of mind unfortunately. To Matt – not enough power? When he retired he had the second most home runs in major league history for a right handed batter. He led the majors in the 1950s in RBIs. He wasn’t flashy, just got the job done. The Dodgers were a great team, but without Hodges steadying the defense, and coming up with the big hits (remember the 7th game of the 1955 World Series where he had the only two RBIs in the game to lead the Dodgers to victory).

Not to mention the great job he did in taking the ‘69 Mets to the World Series as a Manager.

His only problem, he died way too soon. If he were alive today, he would be in the Hall of Fame. Out of sight, out of mind unfortunately.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/05/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-54030 Nick Kapur Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:58:54 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/#comment-54030 Right you are Robert! Thanks for calling me on that one. Given that Perez is clearly one of the worst players in the Hall of Fame, going by the numbers, and the way Joe Morgan kept saying for years how Perez should be in, I sort of just naturally assumed he must have been elected by Joe Morgan and the Veterans. Right you are Robert! Thanks for calling me on that one. Given that Perez is clearly one of the worst players in the Hall of Fame, going by the numbers, and the way Joe Morgan kept saying for years how Perez should be in, I sort of just naturally assumed he must have been elected by Joe Morgan and the Veterans.

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]]> By: robert http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/05/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-54029 robert Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:59:37 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/#comment-54029 "Just to take one example of an a first baseman inferior to Hodges who got elected by the Veterans through nepotism - consider Veteran’s Committee kingpin Joe Morgan’s best buddy Tony Perez, the last man snuck through in 2000 before the rule changes." Perez was not voted in by the Veteran's Committee - he was voted in by the BBWAA writers. You can argue all you want about whether he should be in or not, but having Joe Morgan as a buddy on the VC had nothing to do with it. “Just to take one example of an a first baseman inferior to Hodges who got elected by the Veterans through nepotism – consider Veteran’s Committee kingpin Joe Morgan’s best buddy Tony Perez, the last man snuck through in 2000 before the rule changes.”

Perez was not voted in by the Veteran’s Committee – he was voted in by the BBWAA writers. You can argue all you want about whether he should be in or not, but having Joe Morgan as a buddy on the VC had nothing to do with it.

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]]> By: Matt http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/05/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-54028 Matt Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:21:45 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/#comment-54028 Gil Hodges is one of the top level members of the Hall of Very Good, but he does not merit induction into the Hall of Fame. Yes, he played on a series of great teams - but he had great teammates (Reese, Robinson, Campanella, Snider) that were more responsible for the success than Hodges. Yes, Gil missed four years in the Marines, but those were when he was 19-22 years old, hardly prinme years for a baseball player. I might agree that Hodges is better than Perez, but that's not the point. Perez is certainly among the least qualified HOF'ers, and might even be a mistake. So what if Hodges is better than Doggie? I also agree that a .273 AVG should not keep a player out of the Hall, assuming there are other things to sufficiently bolster the candidacy. But Gil Hodges does not have those things. Not enough power, and while he may have been a great defensive 1B, he was not as good as say, Keith Hernandez, who might have a better case than Hodges. Gil Hodges does NOT deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Just not good enough. Gil Hodges is one of the top level members of the Hall of Very Good, but he does not merit induction into the Hall of Fame. Yes, he played on a series of great teams – but he had great teammates (Reese, Robinson, Campanella, Snider) that were more responsible for the success than Hodges. Yes, Gil missed four years in the Marines, but those were when he was 19-22 years old, hardly prinme years for a baseball player.

I might agree that Hodges is better than Perez, but that’s not the point. Perez is certainly among the least qualified HOF’ers, and might even be a mistake. So what if Hodges is better than Doggie?

I also agree that a .273 AVG should not keep a player out of the Hall, assuming there are other things to sufficiently bolster the candidacy. But Gil Hodges does not have those things. Not enough power, and while he may have been a great defensive 1B, he was not as good as say, Keith Hernandez, who might have a better case than Hodges.

Gil Hodges does NOT deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Just not good enough.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/05/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/comment-page-1/#comment-54027 Sarah Green Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:40:40 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/the-case-for-hodges-remains-as-strong-as-ever/#comment-54027 Okay Nick, you've convinced me! I had shamefully forgotten he gave up years of his prime to serve in the Marines and defeat the Axis powers. The man is a hero. Put him in! Okay Nick, you’ve convinced me! I had shamefully forgotten he gave up years of his prime to serve in the Marines and defeat the Axis powers. The man is a hero. Put him in!

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