Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“At last Gil Hodges is a Hall of Famer. Now that the leader of two of the most iconic baseball teams of all time, the 1955 Dodgers and 1969 Mets, is enshrined in Cooperstown, his fascinating life story deserves greater appreciation. Mort Zachter delivers a book worthy of the great player, manager and American.”—Tom Verducci, senior writer for Sports Illustrated
“Zachter’s account of Hodges’s exploits is thorough and entertaining, and his case that his favorite player probably ought to be in the Hall of Fame is convincing.”—Bill Littlefield, NPR’s
Only a Game "Mort Zachter captures the essence of Hodges in his biography."—Bob D'Angelo,
Tampa Tribune"Fans who remember the Brooklyn Bums and the Miracle Mets will find this a must-read."—Jim Burns,
Library Journal“The definitive and wonderfully told tale of a baseball icon. Mort Zachter has given Gil Hodges the biography he has long deserved.”—Michael Shapiro, professor of journalism at Columbia University and author of
The Last Good Season: Brooklyn, the Dodgers and Their Final Pennant Race Together “Exhaustively researched.”—
Christian Science Monitor “Whether focusing on Hodges the Hoosier, the marine on Okinawa, the home run–hitting slugger, or the Brooklynite on Bedford Avenue, Mort Zachter has given us Gil, right down to the nub of his Marlboro. His mincing steps to the mound are remembered along with the candles lit in church and the day Brooklyn’s heart skipped a beat with his. This one spikes high into your heart; the Hodges epic is a lesson in humanity for all seasons.”—Bob McGee, author of
The Greatest Ballpark Ever: Ebbets Field and the Story of the Brooklyn Dodgers “Zachter brings the same grace and precision to the page that Hodges brought to first base at Ebbets Field and with methodical research, insight, and pure affection gives life to the man behind the astounding stats, proving once and for all that Hodges truly belongs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Kudos to Mort Zachter for giving a beloved Brooklyn legend his due.”—Marty Markowitz, former Brooklyn Borough president
"[An] excellent biography."—Jacqueline Cutler,
Newark Star Ledger“Absolutely fantastic. It was truly a pleasure to read.”—Josh Lewin, New York Mets broadcaster
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Preface
Prologue: His Reputation Preceded Him
HOME—Princeton and Petersburg (1924–43)
1. Coal Miner’s Son
2. The Twig, the Branch, and the Lip
AWAY—The Pacific (1944–45); Newport News (1946)
3. Okinawa
4. Newport News
HOME—Brooklyn (1947–57)
5. Hanging On
6. Breaking Through
7. Four in One, One for Four
8. Great Expectations
9. A Bitter Uniqueness
10. Say a Prayer
11. The Day Next Year Arrived
12. Where in America Would You See That?
13. The Last Season
AWAY—Los Angeles (1958–61)
14. The Worst Place Ever
15. World Champions
HOME—Manhattan (1962)
16. Casey
AWAY—Washington DC (1963–67)
17. In the Cellar
18. Off the Floor
19. On the Doorstep of Respectability
HOME—Queens (1968–72)
20. The Mets Get Serious
21. Contenders
22. Miracle
23. Struggles in the Spotlight
24. Easter Sunday
Epilogue: A Life
Afterword: Hodges and the Hall
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
