Gilbert Ray Hodges was a hometown hero and favorite son of Petersburg, Indiana, a star baseball player for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1943-1961, an original Met from 1962-1963, and the manager who led the New York Mets to a miracle 1969 World Series Championship. He was known locally for his kind nature and devotion to his faith, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2022.