The hallowed halls of Cooperstown are reserved for a select few: the greatest players of all time.
The 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame class will include a crop of past greats selected by the Golden Days Era Committee, including Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Buck O’Neil, Minnie Miñoso, and Tony Oliva. To celebrate these new inductees, test your knowledge of their storied careers.
Who hit the first home run in Mets history?
The Mets got off to an inauspicious start in 1962, the first season in franchise history. That year, Casey Stengel and his ragtag group of ballplayers went 40-120 to finish dead last in the National League and 60 ½ games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants.
Despite their overall ineptitude, the inaugural Mets still featured recognizable names like Richie Ashburn, Roger Craig, Frank Thomas, and Don Zimmer. Among those names was Gil Hodges, already a New York baseball icon for his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Hodges was selected by the Mets in the 1961 expansion draft and started the franchise’s very first game on April 11, 1962. He cracked a solo homer off Cardinals pitcher Larry Jackson in the fourth inning for the first home run in franchise history.
Hodges, of course, would manage the Mets to their first World Series title in 1969.
For more on Hodges and his career, click here.
Who was the first player to win a batting title in his first two full seasons?
Talk about an indelible first impression.
After cups of coffee with the Twins in 1962 and 1963, a Cuban right fielder named Tony Oliva latched on as an everyday player in 1964. He produced one of the best freshman campaigns imaginable, leading the majors in hits (217) and total bases (374), while pacing the American League in runs (109), doubles (43), and batting average (.323). Unsurprisingly, he ran away with the AL Rookie of the Year Award by capturing 19 of 20 first-place votes.
There was no sophomore slump for Oliva, who won another batting title in 1965 with a .321 mark. Oliva’s excellence came in a season dominated by pitchers; only two other qualified American League batters (Carl Yastrzemski and Vic Davalillo) hit .300 or above that year. Oliva became the first player to win a batting title in his first two seasons, and finished second to Twins teammate Zoilo Versalles in American League MVP voting.
In what year did Minnie Miñoso collect his final MLB hit?
Minnie Miñoso was the definition of a baseball lifer; he exercised every possible opportunity to extend his playing career.
The “Cuban Comet” initially retired from the White Sox after the 1964 season, then proceeded to play in the Mexican League for the next nine seasons. He returned to the South Side in 1976 as a first and third base coach for the White Sox.
The White Sox were on the brink of bankruptcy at the time, and crafty owner Bill Veeck knew Miñoso was still a powerful drawing card. So in September of 1976, Veeck announced that Miñoso would see game action as an active player.
Said Veeck, “He’s in remarkable condition. If he doesn’t get a hit, he’ll get hit by a pitch.” Miñoso was at least 50 years old, though subsequent research suggests he might have been 52 or 53. He went hitless in his first game back, batting ninth in the order at DH. He started in the same spot the next day, this time lining a single in his first at-bat. Though he would play one more game in 1976 and receive two pinch-hit appearances in 1980, that single was his final hit as a big leaguer.
The Comiskey Park scoreboard summed it up thusly: “Minnie Miñoso es cómo el vino: mientras más viejo, más pega” (Minnie Miñoso is like wine: the older it is, the harder it hits).
Who was the first black coach in AL/NL history?
One of the greatest storytellers to grace a baseball diamond, Buck O’Neil’s life was a compelling story all its own.
Following his tenure as a star first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, O’Neil was hired by the Chicago Cubs as a scout. His instincts and eye for talent led him to sign future big leaguer Oscar Gamble and future Hall of Famer Lou Brock. O’Neil’s post-playing career continued to ascend in 1962, when he was promoted to the Chicago Cubs coaching staff. The Cubs did not have a full-time manager, instead relying on a rotation of coaches (sometimes called the “College of Coaches”) to share managerial duties. O’Neil believed he would be included in the rotation, but alas, he was never given a chance to become MLB’s first African-American manager.
O’Neil returned to scouting for the Cubs in 1964 and would sign two future stars: Hall of Famer Lee Smith and 1993 World Series hero Joe Carter.
For more on the history of the Negro Leagues, click here.
Which two players hold the record for most consecutive Gold Glove Awards?
From 1962 to 1977, the consensus was clear: Jim Kaat was the best fielding pitcher in all of baseball. The steady lefty won the Gold Glove Award in each of those seasons, setting a record for Gold Gloves by a pitcher with 16. Kaat’s record has since been broken by Greg Maddux, who won the award 18 times.
While Maddux may have surpassed Kaat in total Gold Gloves, “Kitty” is still tied with legendary third baseman Brooks Robinson for the most consecutive Gold Glove wins. Robinson took home the award each year with the Orioles from 1960 to 1975.
Searle’s Final Say
For new Hall of Fame selections like Gil Hodges, Buck O’Neil, and Minnie Miñoso, the honor is long overdue. Hodges deserves the honor for the totality of his achievements as both a player and manager, while O’Neil should be applauded for preserving and promoting Negro Leagues history. As for Minnie Miñoso, his defiance of Father Time (he played professionally in seven different decades!) was truly extraordinary. These players led fascinating lives and should be continually celebrated for their contributions to the game’s history.
