The Many Close Calls of Gil Hodges:
 

I have always been interested in the BWAA HOF voting in regards to Gil Hodges.

I won't take sides, with this thread, as to whether or not he should be a Hall-of-Famer.

Instead, I would like to shine a light on just how close he came...year after year...I cannot imagine how that must have felt.


Consider the following:

Hodges was on the ballot from 1969 through 1983.

That first year, he only received 24.1 %, but for the next 14 ballots, he was always between 40.7% and 63.4%- with 11 of those at least 50.0%.

In his 15 years on the ballot, he was the only candidate in the top ten in votes received to not eventually gain admittance 6 different times; In 8 other years, he was one of only 2 never to get in.

From 1970 through 1981, he was always in the top 5 in votes received; he was 4th six times and 3rd four times.
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I doubt he knew about most of it because he died in the early 70s.

Well, that’s a relief. Had he known, he would have suffered.

I always thought there should be a category for guys like him, Joe Torre (who is now in anyway) Dusty Baker and possibly Lou Pinella. Maybe they came up a bit short separately as player or manager but when you combine the two... Hodges managed the Miracle Mets for Pete's sake that alone should get him in!

I feel like a dope for forgetting that...passed on 4/2/72


...but, if he had time to check back in...



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Why don't we start one right here and now!

We could call it the TWO PERCENTERS' HALL.

Accepting nominations for The Inaugural Class:

I officially nominate the afore-mentioned Gil Hodges along with three great Cubans- Minnie Minoso, Luis Tiant and Tony Oliva.

Someone want to start an election poll?

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He also saw combat in WW2 in the Pacific, probably had a few close calls there too!