It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Ron Hodges, a former catcher for the New York Mets, at the age of 74.
Hodges was born in 1945 in California and was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 1966 amateur draft. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 1971 and played for them until 1978. During his time with the Mets, he was known for his strong defensive skills, as well as his ability to handle pitchers. He was also a key member of the 1973 Mets team that won the National League pennant.
Hodges was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978 and played for them until 1980. He then went on to play for the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres before retiring from baseball in 1982.
After his retirement from baseball, Hodges worked as a coach and scout for several teams, including the Mets, Cubs, and Padres. He also served as a minor league manager for the Mets from 1985 to 1987.
Hodges is remembered by many as a great teammate and leader who was always willing to help out his fellow players. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.
