Program

Indiana Historical Bureau

Subject

People, Site

Location

Lafayette Park, 700 N Lafayette Pk Dr, Princeton, IN 47670, USA

Lat/Long

38.361616922063, -87.574750003168

Grant Recipient

Indiana Historical Bureau

Side One: Gilbert “Gil” Ray Hodges, 1924-1972
Born in Princeton, Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges grew up in Petersburg. In 1941, he played American Legion baseball here. The field was renamed for him in 1970. Hodges debuted with MLB’s Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943 but served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater in WWII. He returned to the Dodgers, playing basketball at Oakland City College in the offseason.

Side Two: Gilbert “Gil” Ray Hodges
Between 1947-1961, the eight-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover helped the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers win seven pennants and two World Series. Hodges played for the New York Mets in their 1962 inaugural season and, as manager, led the 1969 “Miracle Mets” to their first World Series title. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.

Installed 2024 Indiana Historical Bureau, William G. Pomeroy Foundation, The City of Princeton, Indiana, and North Gibson School Corporation