Featuring
Vin Scully
Dodgers Broadcaster 1950-2016
"The story of Gil Hodges was a beautiful one, he just taught me so much by example."
Carl Erksine
Dodgers Pitcher 1948-1959
“Hodges prevented many an outbreak around second base for Jackie Robinson … Historically, he [Hodges] had as much to do with Jackie’s success on the infield as anybody.”
Ron Swoboda
New York Mets 1965-1970
“From his time as a player … and what he did as a manager … if you can’t combine those things and put him where he belongs in the Hall of Fame, then shame on them.”
LeRoy J. Essig, MD
Childhood Brooklyn Dodgers Fan
“The Dodgers were part of your upbringing when you lived in Brooklyn … Gil Hodges was my hero growing up.”
Mark Langill
Dodgers Team Historian
“The other big mystery [in Dodgers history] is, why isn’t Gil Hodges in the Hall of Fame?”
Gil Hodges, Jr.
Eldest Child of Gil Hodges
"He treated everyone equally, that's exactly who and what he was."
Brian Golden
Sports Columnist
“He was a guy as Jackie Robinson, pointed out, you could always rely on him to have your back.“
Cleon Jones
New York Mets 1963-1975
“If not for Gil Hodges, you wouldn't be talking about the ‘69 Mets.”
Ray McKenna
President, Catholic Athletes for Christ
“Fr. Redmond said to his parishioners, ‘It’s too hot for a Homily today, I want you all to go home and pray for Gil Hodges.’“
Randy Harris
Former Mayor of Petersburg, Indiana
“Pee Wee [Reese] said, ‘If you had a son wouldn’t it be a great thing if he grew up to be just like Gil Hodges.’”
Tommy Lasorda
Hall Of Fame L.A. Dodgers Manager
"He [Hodges] loved his country, he loved his family, and he loved the Dodgers."
Art Shamsky
New York Mets 1969-1971
“For somebody at Gil’s stature to take that team in two years to a World Championship, I think it really meant something special to him.“
Ed Kranepool
New York Mets 1962-1979
“We all believed in Gil Hodges. that’s the reason we were on board to that concept, when things start working, you then continue to do so.”
Thomas Oliphant
Journalist and Author
“Jackie Robinson truly believed that Hodges was the soul of the Brooklyn Dodgers.”
Kevin O'Malley
MLB Coordinator, Catholic Athletes for Christ
“Gil represented the borough of Brooklyn like no other Dodger.”