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Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today was joined by Joan Hodges, the widow of the late New York Mets legend Gil Hodges, New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba, and Council Members Michael C. Nelson to unveil Gil Hodges Way in Brooklyn. On February 26th the Mayor signed legislation to rename Bedford Avenue, between Avenues L and M, the street on which Gil Hodges and his family lived, to Gil Hodges Way.
"Although he passed away nearly 30 years ago, Gil Hodges remains a beloved figure in New York City," said Mayor Giuliani. "He is part of the City's cherished baseball lore. He helped lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to victory over the New York Yankees to win the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World Series in 1955, and he coached the Miracle Mets in 1969 when they won their first World Series. Gil's achievements represent all that is good in baseball and it is a pleasure to rename this section of Bedford Avenue Gil Hodges Way in his honor."
"I am extremely delighted that Mayor Giuliani and Councilman Nelson have made it possible for Bedford Avenue to be renamed Gil Hodges Way," said Joan Hodges. "This is a wonderful way to remember Gil, and my family and I couldn't be more thankful."
Sports Commissioner Kenneth Podziba said, "Beyond his extraordinary talent as a player and manager, Gil was a caring, unselfish man of great integrity. Re-naming the street that he lived on to Gil Hodges Way is a perfect way to honor this local American hero."
Gilbert Raymond Hodges was born in Princeton, Indiana on April 4, 1924. In 1943, Gil came to New York as a nineteen-year-old rookie catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Like many ballplayers of his generation, his career was interrupted by service in the Second World War. Gil enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the height of the war and received the Bronze Star for meritorious and heroic service. He did not return to the Dodgers until the 1947 season.
In 1948, with the arrival of another notable Brooklyn catcher, Roy Campanella, manager Leo Durocher moved Gil from catcher to first base. Over the course of his career, Gil Hodges hit 370 home runs and drove in 1,274 runs. His lifetime batting average was .273, and he collected a total of 1,921 hits. Remarkably, he drove in more than 100 runs for seven consecutive seasons from 1949 to 1955 and hit 20 or more home runs for 11 straight seasons from 1949 to 1959. In 1950, Gil hit four home runs in a single game against the Boston Braves, tying a Major League record that still stands today. In addition, he was an outstanding fielder, earning three Gold Gloves, and he represented the National League at first base in eight All-Star Games.
Toward the end of his career, Gil Hodges played for the City's new National League club, the New York Mets. On April 11, 1962, in St. Louis, Gil hit the first home run in the team's history. In 1968 he was named the Mets' manager, and was at the helm when the team won its first World Series in the "miracle" 1969 season.