SAVAGE VIEWS – To Cooperstown and Back

 

SAVAGE VIEWS – To Cooperstown and Back

July 27, 2022

I don’t recall not being a Brooklyn Dodgers fan.  It could have been as early as 1947, when I was 6 years old or more likely 1948 when I was 7.  I was always a Gil Hodges fan and it might have been because his middle name Raymond got my attention– who remembers?

Not sure when we got our first TV set – probably before 1950.  Listened to Red Barber and Connie Desmond broadcast the games on radio.  Do recall listening to the final game of the 1950 season when Del Ennis hit a three-run homerun off Don Newcombe in the 10^th inning to win the pennant for the Phil’s on the final day of the season.

A year later I played hooky as a 10-year-old from St. Stan’s in Greenpoint to attend the playoff game at the Polo Grounds.  Unfortunately, some guy by the name of Thomson hit “the shot heard round the world”.  I know I am one of three surviving folks from that game. Mays and Erskine being the other two.

As a long-term Hodges fan, I admit to being biased about his credentials for the baseball HOF. What sometimes gets overlooked:

·       He was one of the two leaders of a great Brooklyn teams in the late 40’s and 50’s – Reese being the other.

·       I remember a game in 1948 when Rex Barney was pitching a no-hitter, but having trouble throwing strikes.  Hodges went to the mound and gave Barney “strong words of wisdom”.   Whatever Gil said worked wonders and Rex finished his historic game.

·       He was instrumental in smoothing the way for Jackie Robinson to be accepted.  A true friend to Jackie

·       When he hit 4 homers in a game, he was only the second player to ever do so.

·       In 1949 he hit for the cycle – I believe he is the only player to have hit 4 homers in a game and also hit for the cycle. 

·       He was one of the best fielding first baseman of all time. 

·       When he retired only Jimmy Foxx and Willie Mays hit more homers from the right side.

My point is that not only did Gil have a very good career on a very good team, many intangibles set him aside from others including having a strong moral fiber.

When I heard the news that he was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first thing I did was go to AIRNB to find a place to stay for me and three of my sons.   Next, I got reservations at two of the better dining establishments in Cooperstown.   I also joined the Hall of Fame Museum.

We flew out of Raleigh into Albany and arrived in Cooperstown mid-afternoon on Friday, the 22^nd.  After lunch at the Lakefront restaurant, we headed to town to shop for souvenirs.  I picked up a Hodges #14 Dodgers T-shirt.   While walking through Main Street did see Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky and Ed Kranepool selling memoirs. 

I had made dinner reservations at the Hawkeye Bar and Grill in the Otesaga Resort for 8:00 and received confirmation of the reservation the day before.  When we got there, we were turned away because a private party was happening and we were not invited.  Wound up spending the evening at Mel’s instead.

On Saturday following breakfast at the Doubleday Café we visited the Museum.  It was a mob scene and we left after two hours to hook up with friends of 50 years that we had not seen in seven years.  Decided to head out to the Ommegang Brewery and when we got there they were closed hosting a private party  Went to the nearby Red Shed Brewery for a couple of quick drafts and then back to Ommegang.  It’s been a good 12 years since we were there and the place has changed dramatically.  It’s been converted into a full-scale restaurant with a nice selection of beers.  Before, it was just a place to sample brews.

Went back into town to catch the Parade of Legends.  It was kind of cool to see the large contingent of Hall of Famers who did show up.

Saturday dinner was at Toscano Italian Restaurant.  Noticed a nice-looking lady at the table next to ours and I tapped her on the arm and asked her if she was married to anybody famous because she looked like “a trophy wife”.  She replied that she is married to Steve Garvey, “her trophy husband”.  Got to chat with Steve for a few minutes.  Hard to believe he’s 73-looks a lot younger.

On Sunday went to the Induction Ceremony. Large crowd of David Ortiz supporters.  If he wasn’t being inducted the place would be half empty (half full?).  Left early as the speakers droned on.  Jim Kaat seemed to have a lot to say.

For dinner went to Becca’s for pizza.  A-Rod decided to show up.  He’s a really big guy.

It was an expensive week-end but worth the price to spend time with my sons and friends we have not seen in a while.   But, best of all, my man, Gil Hodges, finally got the recognition he long deserved.

Ray