Gomer Hodge
| Gomer Hodge | |
|---|---|
| Infielder | |
| Born: April 3, 1944 Rutherfordton, North Carolina | |
| Died: May 13, 2007 (aged 63) Saluda, North Carolina | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 6, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .205 |
| Games played | 80 |
| Doubles | 3 |
| Teams | |
| |
Harold Morris "Gomer" Hodge (April 3, 1944 – May 13, 2007) was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. He appeared in 80 Major League Baseball games as a pinch hitter, third baseman and first baseman for the Cleveland Indians in 1971. The switch-hitting Hodge threw right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
Early life
Hodge was born in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. His mother worked at a garment factory, while his father worked at the local textile mill and ran the family farm.[1] His nickname of "Gomer" came from a teammate on the Burlington Indians in 1964 due to his resemblance to Jim Nabors; the nickname stuck with him throughout his career.[2]
Playing career
Hodge spent eight seasons in the Cleveland farm system before making the MLB Indians' 1971 roster out of spring training. In his MLB debut on April 6, he singled to shortstop as a pinch hitter off Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers and drove in a run.[3] Two days later, with the Indians down 2–0 against the Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Stadium, he pinch hit for second baseman Eddie Leon in the eighth inning, doubled off Sonny Siebert and later scored the Tribe's first run of the game. Hodge replaced Leon in the field and came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two out and runners on second and third, Hodge singled to centerfield off Boston relief pitcher Ken Tatum to plate both runners and give Cleveland a walk-off, 3–2 win.[4] Then, on April 11, Hodge pinch hit again, and, facing Tatum, he doubled for his fourth consecutive MLB hit to drive in another run.[5] He would collect only 13 more hits for the entire season, however, as he batted only .205 with one home run and nine runs batted in.
Coaching career
His minor league playing career extended over 12 seasons, through 1976, and he later managed and served as a batting instructor in the minor league organizations of the Indians, Montreal Expos and Red Sox through 2002. Gomer Hodge died May 13, 2007, from Lou Gehrig's Disease.[6]
References
- ^ Schneider, Russell (April 10, 1971). "Schneider Around". The Plain Dealer. p. 2C.
- ^ Novak, Ralph (June 5, 1971). "Can 'Gomer' Rescue The Cleveland Indians?". Times Daily. p. 18.
- ^ 1971-4-6 box score from Retrosheet
- ^ 1971-4-8 box score from Retrosheet
- ^ 1971-4-11 box score from Retrosheet
- ^ Former Indian Harold 'Gomer' Hodge dies
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 1944 births
- 2007 deaths
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Cleveland Indians players
- Pawtucket Indians players
- Waterbury Indians players
- Salinas Indians players
- Burlington Indians players
- Savannah Indians players
- Dubuque Packers players
- San Jose Bees players
- Portland Beavers players
- Oklahoma City 89ers players
- Baseball players from North Carolina
- Deaths from motor neurone disease