Former catcher Ron Hodges, a veteran of 12 Major League seasons, has died following a brief illness, the Mets announced on Friday. He was 74.
Hodges, a native of Rocky Mount, Va., was drafted by the Mets in the Secondary Phase of the 1972 MLB January Draft out of Appalachian State University.
He would go on to spend his entire career with the Mets, serving mainly as a backup catcher and pinch-hitter. Though a low-key figure, Hodges is a footnote in a big day in Mets history, as he got the start on Opening Day in 1983, which also marked the return of Tom Seaver after a five-year stint with the Reds.
Throwing to Hodges, Seaver logged six scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Hodges appeared in 666 games from 1973-84, posting a career .240 batting average with 19 home runs and 147 RBIs.
