In breadth of experience, wisdom and eloquence, no person in baseball imbues more integrity in his words than the great Vin Scully, now 94 years old. His latest work, a beautiful essay written for MLB.com, is required reading for the Hall of Fame’s Golden Days Era Committee, which on Sunday votes on candidates for enshrinement.
Scully makes the most convincing argument yet why Gil Hodges deserves to be in the Hall of Fame: It is the totality of a historic baseball life playing and managing, well beyond statistics.
Wrote Scully, “When one combines Gil’s impressive and consistent play on the field, his innovative managerial approach and leadership of the New York Mets culminating in the greatest upset in baseball history in 1969, and his unwavering commitments to his faith, family, country, and social justice, you have the rare instance of the ideal candidate.