Gil Hodges

McDowell's first pitch from the big left-hander is strike one.

Both Weaver of the American League and Hodges of the National started with a right-hander, and both have gone to left-handers as their second pitcher.

One strike pitch to the right-handed Hank Aaron is way up high from McDowell, and it's one and one.

You know, Eddie, we've talked about the other pitchers in this ballgame so far and said that they had good stuff, that they threw hard, but I think you have to look at Sam McDowell and say that he throws harder probably than anybody else in the ballgame.

Ralph Houk of the Yankees is at first base.

And Lefty Phillips of the surprising California Angels is over at third.

Gil Hodges manages the National Leaguers, of course, as the Mets chief.

And Earl Weaver from Baltimore manages the American League.

It's bunted, but up into the air.

There's Gil Hodges digging over in foul territory, makes the catch for the out.

[crowd cheering] So Phil attempted to come up with his specialty, a bunt.

Only on this occasion, instead of dumping it down the third base line, he tried to shove it by the mound.

That was his intention with Robinson deep at second.

But instead, he popped it into the air in foul territory back of first, and Gil Hodges pranced over and grabbed it easily.

So there's one out, and up comes Tommy Henrich.

Tommy hitting at .287 on the season.

Sandy Amoros.

Gil Hodges down and one knee off to the right.

He's due to come up next.

Strike two count.

Warren Hacker's walking out to the pitcher's mound.

First half of the fourth inning coming up.

Roy Campanella, Sandy Amoroso, and Gil Hodges will be the first three men to step in.

The St. Mark's Choir Guild brought the Choir Boys...

They batted around.

Now Gil Hodges, Perry eyes his runner.

The pitch to Cannizzaro, hit hard.

Lane grabs it left center.

A foul ball lofts it back over the screen into the crowd.

Jesse has two hits in the seven times at bat.

Gil Hodges, Perry last time against New York, 5 and 2.

He was tagged by the Mets last Sunday.

Uh, as we've said, uh, all of the executives appear, and whether, whether this means anything or not remains to be seen.

But George Selkirk, the general manager of Washington, has given Bing Devine of the Mets permission to speak to your old teammate, Gil Hodges.

The first pitch by Lonborg to Roger Maris is outside.

Roger acted like he wanted to bunt one down at third baseline.

Lonnborg was over to cover, but he made the play himself at first base.

Javier moves to second.

And now Phil Gagliano, utility infielder, a teammate of Tim McCarver's at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee Will come up to bat with Javier on second and two out in the eighth.

And Javier is the first St. Louis man base runner to reach second base in this game.

Otis was a teammate of mine, Joe, when I was in New York for a while before he was traded over here to Kansas City.

He was a center fielder and Gil Hodges, who was our manager at that time, wanted to make him a third baseman and Otis liked the outfield.

I think that's one of the reasons he ended up being traded over to Kansas City.

It's funny, if a manager wants to make an infield and you like the outfield, you end up getting traded.

[crowd cheering] [band playing] And finally, the man chosen as baseball's greatest living player, Joe DiMaggio.

[crowd cheering] [band playing] Ladies and gentlemen, may we ask you to please rise for a moment of silent tribute to the memory of those old-timers and friends of baseball, such as Mrs. Joan Whitney Payson, Casey Stengel, George Weiss, Gil Hodges, Johnny Murphy, Danny Frisella, and many others who are no longer with us.

Please remain standing for the singing of our national anthem.

A moment of silence, please.

Vern Stephens.

And Gil Hodges had a stance that was a widespread stance that used just a little bit of a stride, and he finally prevailed on Frank Howard to cut down that big stride where he would get way out in front, and evidently that's made the big difference.

If a slugger has a hitch in his swing, spreading out is just about the best thing you can do to doctor that, isn't it?

It'll keep your balance, and that's what you're looking for.

And when he gets that, he will be in a tie with Ralph Kiner for 23rd place all-time Major League home run.

Needs two to tie Gil Hodges, 22nd Major League home run.

So he'll get that and some more before he's hung up his cleats.

Simpson up high, ball one.