[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              GIL HODGES BELONGS IN BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

  (Mr. WEINER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the Bay News in Brooklyn 
had this headline on their newspaper. It says, ``Get Gil In. 
Brooklynites Demand, Put Hodges in the Hall of Fame.''
  Well, today, the veterans committee of major league baseball 
announced, once again, that Gil Hodges had been passed over. This is an 
outrage.
  In fact, we all know that Gil Hodges was the first major league 
player to ever hit four home runs in a game. And those of us who are 
Met fans know that he was the first Met to ever hit a home run and, of 
course, the manager of the ``Miracle Mets'' of 1969.
  But even the casual baseball fan knows that Gil Hodges deserves to be 
in the Hall of Fame. They know that he ranks 38 in home runs, with over 
370; six seasons with 30-plus home runs. He hit twice, more than 40 
home runs. He had a lifetime slugging percentage of nearly 500, and 
nine times he exceeded a 500 slugging percentage. He was a Gold Glove 
winner. He played on seven pennant winners and two World Series 
champions.
  He was a hero to the people of Brooklyn and a baseball player that 
deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
  The Bay News said, ``Get Gil In.'' All Brooklynites agree. The 
Committee on Veterans Affairs' should heed that call.

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