Ron Hodges

Ronald Wray Hodges (June 22, 1949 – November 24, 2023) was an American professional baseball player who spent his entire 12-year career as a catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Hodges was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 1970 MLB Draft, but did not sign. He was also drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round (15th pick) of the 1971 amateur draft (secondary phase), and the Atlanta Braves in the first round (tenth overall) of the 1971 amateur draft (secondary phase active), but chose not to sign with either of those teams. Eventually, he signed with the Mets, who selected him in the second round of the 1972 amateur draft (secondary phase).

During just his second professional season, Hodges was promoted to the major league roster when injuries afflicted the Mets' other catchers, Jerry Grote and Duffy Dyer. He made his major league debut on June 13, 1973, catching Tom Seaver. Four days later, he hit his first career home run off the San Diego Padres' Bill Greif. Hodges stayed with the Mets for the remainder of the season, batting .260 with eighteen runs batted in and just the one home run. He was on the Mets' postseason roster in 1973 and played in one game in the World Series, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance.

Hodges retired in 1984 with 666 games, 1,426 at bats, nineteen home runs, 147 RBIs, a batting average of .240, and an on-base percentage of .342.

Hodges' four sons all played college baseball. He died at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, on November 24, 2023, at the age of 74.