Bergino Baseball Clubhouse Honors Gil Hodges

Art Shamsky's 1969 World Series Championship ring

Last Thursday, I had a memorable night at Bergino's Baseball Clubhouse in the Landmark Cast Iron Building on East 11^th Street just west of Grace Church.  The Clubhouse’s owner, Jay Goldberg, hosted a wonderful event celebrating Gil Hodges, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1969 Gil Hodges led World Champion New York Mets. 

There to speak about Gil was Danny Peary, the co-author of the terrific new book, “Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend.”  (Danny wrote the book with Tom Clancy).  

Jay, never one to disappoint, surprised the full house of Gil’s fans with a special guest, Art Shamsky, who played for Gil from his first game as Mets manager to his last game.  Art’s love and respect for the man remains steadfast and abundant. Art was exceedingly charming and engaging with the fans in the audience during and after the event.

I’m a life long Yankee fan. This did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the development and construction of the Met team that won in 1969. I respected Grote because of his hard play and his catching intelligence. Jerry Koosman was my secret favorite pitcher. I was at his first shutout at Shea in 1968 (7 shutouts in his first full season).  Being a lefty and a baseball nut at 14, my world revolved around good lefties like Koosman and soon to be ace Fritz Peterson on the Yankees. Mel Stottlemyre remained a hero. I was at Mel’s first game in August 1964. Snuck up to the Stadium alone on the #4 train. But Mel was righty, understand?

When the Mets hired Hodges in 1968 my gut knew the team would improve and compete.  Hodges represented everything right about baseball and sportsmanship in general.  As example, if Gil played football for the New York Giants after he scored a touchdown he would toss the ball cleanly to the referee. I had no doubt.

Hearing Danny Peary talk passionately about the man as a player, family man, war hero, all my feelings for Gil were reinforced.  Listening to Art Shamsky tell us about Hodges as a manager and father figure to many of the young Met players doubled my opinion that Gil always walked the walk. The man should be in Cooperstown.

Thank you, Jay Goldberg, for bringing the best times of our youth packed inside our baseball memories to East 11^th Street and lighting up the neighborhood with your amazing Clubhouse.

BERGINO BASEBALL CLUBHOUSE

67 East 11 Street • The landmark Cast Iron Building • NYC • 212-226-7150

Grace Church facing the St. Denis Hotel

from left to right, a Fan, Danny Peary, Jay Goldberg & Art Shamsky

Art Shamsky