Gil Hodges a a Catcher
 

Just got a 1947 Team Issued picture pack of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers and

his picture in catchers outfit. Chest protector and hat on backwards. How about

that. Will post picture when I get stuff scanned.

My dad played against Gil in Gibson Co. Indiana when he was a kid. Dad was a catcher also. He had 9 front teeth knocked out when hit by a bat playing a pickup game with no mask. My earliest baseball memory was the 1959 World Series. I was only five. Dad was watching and he was telling me all about Gil Hodges when he was up to bat. Gil immediately hits a homer to win the game and I remember Dad going crazy even though he was a Cardinal fan. A great memory!

With the emergence of the talented Mr. Campanella, the Dodgers made an executive decision to shift Gil to first base. A very wise decision indeed as it turned out.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...GESBGS_NEW.JPG
...Beckett slabs those team-issues for 18 dollars .Worth it for the protection because they are thin and fragile and too large to handle comfortably. Nice pick-up and welcome to the Gil Hodges fan club.