Dodger/Met Great Gil Hodges Elected to Hall of Fame

Nearly a half-century after his death, Gil Hodges has an added line to a resume that includes U.S. Marine, All-Star first baseman and World Series-winning manager. He’s a Hall of Famer.

In his 35th appearance on a ballot for Cooperstown, the former Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers star and guiding force behind the 1969 Miracle Mets obtained the necessary 75 percent of the vote from the Golden Days Era committee for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.

Hodges joined Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva as selections by the committee. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce its 2022 Hall of Fame selections next month.

In 18 major league seasons, Hodges hit 370 homers and amassed 1,274 RBIs and 1,921 hits. An eight-time National League All-Star selection he won three straight Gold Gloves at first base beginning in 1957 when the award was first instituted. He played for World Series winning teams in Brooklyn (1955) and Los Angeles (1959). During Hodges’ peak seasons (1949-59) only Dodgers teammate Duke Snider amassed more homers and RBIs among MLB players. Hodges retired with the third-highest home run total by a right-handed hitter, behind only Jimmie Foxx and Willie Mays.

As manager of the Mets, he took the team from worst-to-first, finishing 100-62 in 1969 before defeating the Orioles in five games in the World Series for the first of only two championships in franchise history. The ’69 Mets included Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Nolan Ryan.

Miami Dolphins Over New York Giants 20-9

The New York Giants lost to the Miami Dolphins, 20-9, on Sunday afternoon.

The New York Giants entered Week 13 shorthanded and hopeful, but left Miami just shorthanded.

In one of their ugliest performances in recent years, the Giants were manhandled by the Miami Dolphins despite the scoreboard showing a low-scoring affair. The reason for that? Big Blue’s usually anemic offense was completely non-functional on Sunday.

With limited weapons, a replacement quarterback and injuries abound, the Giants’ offense was so bad Jason Garrett could be heard laughing from his home in Dallas. And defensively? They, too, left a bit to be desired.

This loss epitomizes the Giants’ season as it was highlighted by injuries and faulty offensive play. In this Week 13 defeat, the Giants were unable to get anything going offensively as they failed to score a single touchdown.

The Giants now fall to 4-8 and last in the NFC East.

Eagles Beat Jets 33 to 18

The Jets’ offense got off to its best start of the season … and then returned to form.

Gang Green scored touchdowns on its first three possessions but then did not score again the rest of the day and lost 33-18 to the Eagles at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Eagles’ backup quarterback Gardner Minshew lit up a bad Jets secondary. The Birds needed him to be sharp with their defense inexcusably struggling against a suspect Jets offense early on.

The Eagles were able to use their run game to protect their lead. All told, the Eagles did exactly what was expected in terms of comfortably beating one of the league’s very worst teams.

Minshew was 20 of 25 for 242 yards and two touchdowns to Dallas Goedert while starting in place of an injured Jalen Hurts.

Jets QB Zach Wilson finished 23 of 38 for 226 yards and two touchdowns for the Jets, and also ran for a score. He was intercepted by Marcus Epps in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles advanced to 12-0 all-time against the Jets.