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The theme of the Mets’ opening series at home this weekend is all about honoring franchise legends.
On Friday, Tom Seaver statue finally got his well deserved statue outside the stadium. On Saturday, the Mets gathered Gil Hodges’ family to celebrate the man who managed the team to its first World Series title in 1969.
Gil’s children, Gil Jr., Cynthia and Irene, held a pregame media session on Saturday — alongside Joe Torre and Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame — to speak about their father.
“This is an amazing moment,” said Irene. “Being here, celebrating this wonderful event for my dad is just amazing. I’m so happy for my family and my children and grandchildren. Hearing all the wonderful things that people say about him is wonderful for them. They get to get to know him through them. I’m so grateful for that.”
Gil’s only son spoke about the fortune he had to travel with the Mets during the summers, taking the occasional batting practice and sitting in the dugout during games. Without mentioning any names, Gil Jr. retold a story from one day in Houston where a player sprinted around the bases and was completely out of breath when he returned to the dugout, leading Hodges to remark that he had a long run after what must have been a long night out.
“That’s how he was,” Gil Jr. said. “He got his point across when the time was necessary, but didn’t make a big thing about it or scream and yell. He just wanted to let everyone know that he knew. We all miss him and love him.”
Hodges was an eight time All-Star as a player and won two World Series with the Dodgers, one in Brooklyn in 1955 and the other in Los Angeles four years later. With 370 home runs and three Gold Gloves at first base, Hodges had a Hall of Fame resume but was not granted entry to Cooperstown while he was still on the writers’ ballot. Instead, his admission to the hallowed institution came by way of the Golden Days Committee, who elected him in December.
“I was very young when daddy died,” Cynthia said. “But he’s always kind of been in my Hall of Fame. I am thankful that everyone who supported him gets to enjoy this.”
Hodges has one of the five Mets’ jersey numbers that are currently retired, along with Casey Stengel, Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza and Jerry Koosman. Keith Hernandez’s No. 17 will join them this summer.
“The thing that always stood out to me [about Hodges] — aside from his ability, and he certainly had that — was his demeanor,” Torre said. “You saw it as a player, and of course, it was accentuated when he became manager.”
The 1969 World Series is perhaps the most treasured moment in Mets’ history, and with his family packed into a crowded room to honor his memory, the franchise paid a classy tribute on Saturday to one of its most treasured people.
BUCK UPDATES STATUS OF MAY AND WALKER
Buck Showalter started his pregame state of the union by providing an update on Trevor May, the relief pitcher who has been dealing with a triceps strain.
“Trevor May is ready to go today,” Showalter said. “He’s available. That’s good news.”
May has not pitched since Monday in Philadelphia. He’s thrown two innings total this year in two appearances and allowed an earned run both times.
Taijuan Walker, who started that game against the Phillies, went on the injured list immediately afterward with right shoulder bursitis. The injury will force Walker to miss what was supposed to be his scheduled start on Sunday, a job that will now go to David Peterson. Walker has been present at Citi Field and milling about the clubhouse without any sort of visible braces or treatment on his shoulder.
“I’ll update you after the game on Tai Walker,” Showalter said.
SCOTT IN FOR SHERLOCK
Bench coach Glenn Sherlock was hit by the recent COVID wave that made its way through the Mets’ dugout. With him on the shelf for a few days, Dick Scott is serving as bench coach for the time being.
Scott was the team’s bench coach from 2016-17 under Terry Collins and now works as a player development coordinator within the organization. While there is no timetable on Sherlock’s return yet — or outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha, who also tested positive — Showalter said they hope to have Sherlock back soon.
“They’re testing consistently, trying to get X number of negative tests,” the skipper said.
WAKE UP EARLY
The Mets’ Saturday matinee is their second of three straight day games, an oddity in an MLB schedule. While Showalter admitted that it’s a little different, and he and the players would rather have Saturday’s game start at the traditional 7:10 p.m., he also said that nobody wants to hear the team complain about having to play baseball under the afternoon sun.
“I can tell it’s affecting you a little bit,” the manager cracked. “You gotta discipline yourself to get into bed, turn those lights out.”
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