’73 Mets’ unsung hero? This backup catcher
NEW YORK — Ron Hodges was an unsung hero for the 1973 Mets. When Hodges joined the workforce in late spring from Double-A Memphis, New York was hit laborious by a significant harm behind the plate. Starter Jerry Grote was on the disabled listing due to a damaged arm, and it didn’t assist that backup Duffy Dyer wasn’t hitting a lick.
Hodges ended up with important enjoying time and was one of many causes the Mets went from final place on Aug. 30 to the National League East crown on the ultimate day of the common season towards the Cubs. Hodges appeared in 45 video games in ‘73, hitting .260 with one homer and 18 RBIs. He was even higher in the course of the remaining month, going 6-for-13 (.462) with 4 RBIs.
“Being in New York was a special thing with all the fans, and [because I] played at Shea Stadium,” Hodges mentioned by way of a current cellphone interview with MLB.com. “Going through that September drive, the stadium was packed with fans every night saying, ‘Let’s go Mets.’ We were winning.”
Hodges’ signature sport occurred towards the Pirates on Sept. 20. With the rating tied at 3, Hodges entered the sport within the high of the tenth inning. Three innings later, it appeared just like the Pirates had been going to take the lead. With a runner on first, two outs and Mets left-hander Ray Sadecki on the mound, outfielder Dave Augustine hit a fly ball to deep left area. It appeared like Augustine was going to hit first Major League residence run. But the ball hit the highest of the fence and landed in Cleon Jones’ glove. Jones then hit the cutoff man, shortstop Wayne Garrett, who threw the ball to Hodges to nail Richie Zisk on the plate.
“Garrett threw a perfect one-hopper to me at the plate. All I had to do was catch the ball and let the runner slide into me,” Hodges remembered.
In the underside of the inning, Hodges ended the sport when he singled to left area off right-hander Dave Giusti to drive in John Milner and put the Mets a half-game behind the first-place Pirates. Mets supervisor Yogi Berra and the remainder of the workforce mobbed Hodges at first base.
The means Hodges sees it, the game-winning hit wouldn’t have occurred if the Pirates had a greater defensive left fielder.
“We won the game. That’s the big thing,” Hodges mentioned. “… I singled in front of the left fielder, who happened to be Willie Stargell. A better left fielder might have caught the ball. Stargell was a first baseman, not a left fielder, but he was out there.”
Hodges didn’t see a lot motion within the postseason. In reality, he obtained his solely postseason at-bat in Game 1 of the ‘73 World Series towards the Athletics within the ninth inning, when he entered as a pinch-hitter for Bud Harrelson. Hodges ended up strolling towards nearer Rollie Fingers.
“I saw Fingers later on at an autograph signing and I said, ‘You don’t remember me. I faced you in the first game in the World Series in ‘73 and I walked.’ He kind of grinned and said ‘Hmm. I didn’t walk too many.’”
Hodges performed 11 extra years with the Mets as a backup catcher earlier than retiring after the 1984 season. He ended his profession with a .240 batting common and a .342 on-base proportion earlier than changing into a realtor for 30 years.
“I would say [my playing career] was successful if for no other reason than I stayed in the big leagues for almost 12 years for one team,” Hodges mentioned. “I kept my mouth shut.”
