APRIL 2019

Minutes before their home opener against the Washington Nationals, the Mets remembered Gil Hodges. His son, Gil Hodges Jr., threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Mets icon Ed Kranepool. It’s fitting that the younger Hodges threw out the first pitch, because it was 50 years ago this year that the Mets upset the Orioles in the World Series -- led by his father, who was the manager. Our own golf ranger, GIL HODGES, JR. was honored April 4, 2019 as his Father, Gil Hodges, Sr. was honored & remembered 50 years after bringing the Mets to win the World Series against the Orioles in 1969, by throwing out the ceremonial pitch. Gil was interviewed in the press box and talked how great a man his father was and as manager of the Mets, the last place team, had them pull off one of the most shocking stories in baseball history by winning 4 straight games after losing the opener. What was amazing is that they were a last place team but Gil Hodges Sr. their manag- er felt that 25 men who thought they could win, brought them to the pennant. Gil Jr. also related being at the game and many before and after, but also how his father managed and played base- ball. Attending the game was Gil’s wife, Tatyana, his sister, Cynthia Hodges and his 91 year old mother, Joan, who still lives in the home she and Gil Sr. purchased 55 years ago, however, today the street is named GIL HODGES WAY . Gil Hodges, Sr. is a baseball legend and what makes his son Gil Jr. so proud – not only a great father, husband, baseball player, but this man from Princeton, Indiana has schools, bridges, streets and ballparks in Brooklyn and Indiana named after him. The fact that he is celebrated and remem- bered so vividly after all these years, is heartwarming and mind boggling. By the way, April 4, 2019, would have been Gil Sr.’s 95 th birthday!

Page 11