Gil Hodges
Hodges hit 370 home runs and drove in 1,274 runs while playing the most demanding defensive position in baseball — and doing it better than almost anyone. Those three Gold Gloves at first base tell only part of the story of a player who revolutionized the position with his size, reach, and sure hands during Brooklyn's golden era.
The numbers reveal a classic slugger who delivered when it mattered most. That .273 average might seem modest today, but Hodges was built for October, helping anchor those legendary Dodgers lineups alongside Robinson, Campanella, and Snider. His 370 homers ranked among the top first basemen of his generation.
What sets Hodges apart is the combination of power and defense that defined his two decades in the majors. The Veterans Committee finally recognized this in 2022, acknowledging a player who was both feared at the plate and invaluable in the field during one of baseball's most competitive eras.
Career · Batting
18 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | BRO | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — |
| 1947 | BRO | 28 | 77 | 1 | 7 | .156 | — | — |
| 1948 | BRO | 134 | 481 | 11 | 70 | .249 | — | — |
| 1949 | BRO | 156 | 596 | 23 | 115 | .285 | — | — |
| 1950 | BRO | 153 | 561 | 32 | 113 | .283 | — | — |
| 1951 | BRO | 158 | 582 | 40 | 103 | .268 | — | — |
| 1952 | BRO | 153 | 508 | 32 | 102 | .254 | — | — |
| 1953 | BRO | 141 | 520 | 31 | 122 | .302 | — | — |
| 1954 | BRO | 154 | 579 | 42 | 130 | .304 | .952 | — |
| 1955 | BRO | 150 | 546 | 27 | 102 | .289 | .877 | — |
| 1956 | BRO | 153 | 550 | 32 | 87 | .265 | .861 | — |
| 1957 | BRO | 150 | 579 | 27 | 98 | .299 | .877 | — |
| 1958 | LAD | 141 | 475 | 22 | 64 | .259 | .764 | — |
| 1959 | LAD | 124 | 413 | 25 | 80 | .276 | .880 | — |
| 1960 | LAD | 101 | 197 | 8 | 30 | .198 | .661 | — |
| 1961 | LAD | 109 | 215 | 8 | 31 | .242 | .685 | — |
| 1962 | NYM | 54 | 127 | 9 | 17 | .252 | .803 | — |
| 1963 | NYM | 11 | 22 | 0 | 3 | .227 | .547 | — |
| Career | 2071 | 7030 | 370 | 1274 | .273 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.