Blow Out the Candles April 4

Hall of  Famer Tris Speaker was born in Hubbard, TX on this date in 1888.

 1992 Conlon Collection #591

S is for Speaker,

Swift center-field tender,

When the ball saw him coming,

It yelled, "I surrender."

— Ogden Nash, Sport magazine

 1912

 Speaker with Cobb

Cobb, Ruth and Speaker

Fan favorite Gil Hodges was born in Princeton, IN on this date in 1924.

 1971 Topps #183

“There are only two kinds of managers. Winning managers and ex-managers.”

 Gil with manager Burt Shotton and Don Newcombe(?)

Hodges had 4 hits in a doubleheader rout of the Boston Braves September 29, 1949

Here's Gil wearing a satin uniform.  Check out this great post from The Design Morgue for more info and pictures on the satins.

Duke, Gil and Jackie

“If you had a son, it would be a great thing to have him grow up to be just like Gil Hodges.”
-- Pee Wee Reese

1962 Mets, Frank Thomas, Gil Hodges, Don Zimmer and Roger Craig

-- What are they so excited about?--

Gil with his Miracle Mets pitchers