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SOME THOUGHTS ON 1966 HALL OF FAME CLASS - part 4
GIL HODGES - A 6 time gold glove winner at first base and a five time all-star, Hodges played 13 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers before finishing his career as a New York Yankee. In 1,943 career games, he had 2,084 hits including 358 homers. He led the National League in rbi's 3 times in his career and was a lifetime .291 hitter.
The Princeton, New Jersey native spent 4 seasons in the Dodgers system before making his major league debut in 1947 at the age of 23. He would be the Dodgers everyday first baseman for the next 12 years and help them win a pair of National League pennants. Hodges would also make the World Series with the 1960 Yankees, who acquired the then 36 year old at midseason for prospect Bob Aspromonte. Hodges would hit .254 after the deal and provide depth for the Yankees but he would go just 1-for-11 in the series as New York lost to Cincinnati. He was a lifetime .204 hitter in World Series play and was on the losing side in all three series.
His time as a Yankee was brief as he was not resigned following the 1960 season. The Red Sox picked him up and he spent the entire 1961 campaign in the minors, primarily in the PCL with Seattle where he hit .258 with 13 homers in 105 games. He won the PCL Series that year with the Rainiers and then retired.
The real life Gil Hodges was considered one of the best defensive first basemen of his time and won 3 Gold Gloves. He was an 8 time all-star and also on a pair of World Series winning clubs. Real life numbers include 370 homeruns and 1921 career hits in 2071 games with a .273 career batting average.
VERDICT - His 358 homers rank 18th all-time and the 6 gold gloves are impresive but he falls short of having a Hall of Fame career. He won't get my vote but I think he might get enough interest to stay on the ballot for a few years.
DON NEWCOMBE - A teammate of Hodges with the Dodgers, the lefthander from Madison, Wisconsin was 151-113 over his 12 year major league career. He made the all-star team twice- in 1950 and 1952 - but was not selected in 1951 which was his only 20 win season. He pitched in two World Series (Dodgers lost them both), appearing in 3 games and starting two of them but had no WS decisions.
Newcombe began his career in the Negro National League with the Newark Eagles before being one of the first players to move across when the color barrier came down. His 1945 season with the Eagles is one for the ages, when the then 18 year old went 17-2 with a 2.67 era in 19 starts. He was a teammate of the great Satchel Paige with Newark that season and the two combined for a 37-7 record. THe following year with Paige's role diminished, Newcombe was the pitching star of a club that also included future major leaguers Larry Doby and Monte Irvin. The three would lead the Eagles to the Negro World Series title that season.
The Dodgers signed him prior to the 1948 season and assigned him to Montreal for the year were he went 9-11 with a 3.77 era. The following year he joined the Dodgers and spent the next 12 seasons in the major leagues. Newcombe ended his career in 1961, pitching in relief for the American Association champion Omaha Dodgers before retiring at the end of that season.
In real life Newcombe was the first pitcher to win rookie of the year, MVP and the Cy Young award in his career, a feat he alone held until Justin Verlander equalled it in 2011. He was the first black pitcher to start and World Series game and the first to win 20 games in a season. He finished with a 149-90 career record and was a 4-time all-star.
VERDICT - Like in real life, segregation will cost Newcombe a chance at the Hall of Fame through the regular vote. In real life he also missed 2 years of his prime due to military service. He got those seasons back in the sim but if his Negro League totals were added to his MLB numbers he would be a 200 game winner. He might get enough votes to stick around for a few ballots and depending on what I learn going forward looking at the old timers still on the ballot he might get my vote.
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