The View From The Rear View Mirror – Gil Hodges, Choo Choo Coleman

By Michael Jawitz, AKA: Grubby Glove

In my third post of this series, I continue to discuss the twenty-five key New York Mets Baseball cards I'm going to send my new friend in Sydney, Australia.  

Gil Hodges is a giant in New York Mets history, but he played significant roles for other teams as well. As the first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1950's he supplied power and a smooth glove for a team that was a perennial winner. Hodges was surrounded by other great players such as Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella and Carl Furillo on Dodgers teams that won National League pennants in 1952, 1953, 1956, 1959 and Brooklyn's only World Championship in 1955.  He was selected in the 1961 expansion draft as one of the original 1962 Mets, returning to New York where age and injury hastened the end of his career a month into the 1963 season. 

From there, he turned to managing, turning in an impressive body of work with the Washington Senators from 1963 (the third of three Managers that season) through 1967.  Under his command the perennial punching bags increased their number of wins every year. He returned to the Mets as their manager in 1968. I'm sure his strategy at the time was to move up a few notches in the standings each year until the team was ready to contend. He didn't expect to be in a position to win the whole thing in 1969, but when the chance came he went for it with every ounce of his fiber. He maximized the production from each position through the use of platooning, capitalized on a talented group of young pitchers and used firm discipline to ensure that nothing less than a player's best would be accepted.  

Left fielder Cleon Jones discovered this first hand that summer on July 30th.The Houston Astros had just pummeled the Metropolitans in the first game of a double header and were administering another drubbing in the night cap when Jones didn't hustle after a ball that was hit his way. The skipper must have realized he had a teachable moment and administered a powerful lesson. He left the dugout and slowly walked out to left field where he removed the left fielder and walked him back to the dugout. This message was received fully by every Mets player in general and Jones in particular. Maximum effort was the norm after that incident. 

I've placed his 1970 Topps card here for two reasons. First, the close-up shows Hodges strength and dignity, a man not easily knocked off course, firmly resolute in his goals. Second, with Hodges in the foreground and Shea Stadium in the background, this card looks like home. 

Choo Choo Coleman has his own special place in New York Mets history, a unique corner that he occupies all by himself. Catching was a bit of a problem for first edition of the Mets. Hobie Landrith could catch but couldn't throw, Chris Canizerro could throw but couldn't catch or hit, and Coleman could catch balls in the dirt and run, but couldn't hit. Coleman was a backup in 1962 and the starting catcher in 1963. Then he was gone, as if he had fallen off the map. 

Then in spring training of 1966, Choo Choo Coleman was back in the Mets camp and playing well. I remember being thrilled when he made the team. However, it was the same story with the bat, and he was gone in a flash, banished to Triple AAA Jacksonville, never to return to the Big Shea.

So what was it about him that makes him one of my key, twenty-five players? It was a lot of things, starting with his nickname. His way in front of the camera on Kiner's Corner was another ingredient. When he was interviewed, he barely spoke, usually answering questions with a "Yeah, Bub." Ultimately, he was one of the key players who symbolized the ineptitude and futility of those very strange, early years. 

But no matter how poorly he played, I couldn't help but like him. He was unique, and along with a few other key individuals who will be given their due in this column at a later date, Choo Choo Coleman was one of the players who put the “1962” into the New York Mets. I have chosen his 1964 Topps card for inclusion here. I like the design and I love his smile. 

I'll return to identify more Mets players + cards next week.