Maury Wills, Gil Hodges Fall Short Of Hall Of Fame Election

[new_royalslider id=”76″] With the Winter Meetings beginning in San Diego, there was more than just trade talks and free agent rumors as there were a few players waiting to see if they were going to make the Hall of Fame.

The Golden Era ballot included two former Dodgers in Maury Wills and Gil Hodges. While Hodges would be inducted posthumously, Wills had been waiting for the vote to see if he would finally make it into the Hall of Fame.

On Monday at the Winter Meetings, the results were announced and neither player received the necessary amount of votes. They weren’t the only ones left out, as there were no players elected. In order to be elected, a player needed 12 votes from the 16-man committee. Wills received nine votes and Hodges was in the three or fewer category.

Hodges spent 12 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers and then four more seasons with the team after the move to Los Angeles. He finished his career with the New York Mets. Hodges ended his career with 370 home runs, was an eight-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner. He skipped two seasons at the beginning of his career while serving in the military. Hodges passed away in 1972.

Wills also spent 12 seasons with the Dodgers, but not consecutively. He also spent two years in Pittsburgh and a year in Montreal. He was an MVP in 1962 when he hit .299 and stole 104 bases. Wills was a five-time All-Star and finished his career with 586 stolen bases. He now spends his time with the Dodgers, instructing and helping mentor the younger players.