The Los Angeles Dodgers will retire the No. 14 worn by soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Gil Hodges on June 4, the team announced Thursday.
Hodges is slated to be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 24. He spent 16 of his 18 major league seasons with the Dodgers — 12 when the franchise was in Brooklyn (1943, 1947-57) and four after the move to Los Angeles (1958-61).
Hodges will become the ninth player to have his number retired by the Dodgers. The others are Pee Wee Reese (No. 1), Duke Snider (4), Jim Gilliam (19), Don Sutton (20), Sandy Koufax (32), Roy Campanella (39), Jackie Robinson (42), Don Drysdale (53).
Managers Tommy Lasorda (2) and Walter Alston (24) and announcers Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin also have been honored.
“When you mention all-time greats in Dodger history, Gil Hodges is among the finest to ever don Dodger blue,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said in a news release. “We are thrilled that he will finally take his place in Cooperstown alongside the games greats and look forward to honoring him.”
Hodges, an eight-time All-Star, ranks second in Dodgers history with 361 homers and 1,254 RBIs, fourth in games played (2,006) and fifth in runs (1,088).
He also is one of just 18 players in major history to hit four homers in a game. He accomplished the feat against the Boston Braves on Aug. 31, 1950.
Hodges spent the final two seasons of his playing career with the New York Mets (1962-63). He later managed the “Miracle Mets” to the 1969 World Series crown.
Hodges died of a massive heart attack on April 2, 1972, two days prior to his 48th birthday.
–Field Level Media