- Home
- Our Stories
- 1980 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Russ Hodges
1980 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Russ Hodges
Russ Hodges, the "Voice of the Giants" for 22 years, was the 1980 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.
Hodges, who passed away in 1971 at the age of 60, held a law degree from the University of Kentucky, his home state. He started his sports- announcing career in 1929 and quickly became one of the most versatile men in the business. Hodges broadcast games for the Reds, Cubs, and Senators, and then joined Mel Allen on Yankees broadcasts. In 1949 he was hired by the New York Giants and, nearly a decade later, followed the team west when the club moved to San Francisco.
The phrase "Bye-bye baby," describing a Giants home run, was his personal trademark, and his most memorable moment in the booth was describing Bobby Thomson's historic homer which defeated the Dodgers in the 1951 playoffs. "The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant …" remains one of the most popular play-by-play rebroadcasts in sports history.
Hodges boasted of the fact that he had seen all but two of the 633 home runs hit by Willie Mays during the announcer's lifetime. He was equally proud of the rapport he enjoyed with the athletes with whom he associated.
More Frick Award Winners
Hall of Fame Awards
Related Stories
Bob Gibson wills Cardinals to Game 7 victory in 1964 World Series
#CardCorner: 1972 Topps Reggie Jackson
Red Barber made New York switch
The Babe’s Called Shot
#CardCorner: 1993 Topps Kevin Mitchell
2017 Today's Game Era Ballot Announced
Willie Mays Hits Career Home Run No. 535 to Pass Jimmie Foxx
1970 Hall of Fame Game
#CardCorner: 1963 Topps Wally Moon
Inductees Exhibit for Class of 2017 Now on Display in Cooperstown
01.01.2023
Hall of Fame Artifacts on Exhibit at Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
01.01.2023
Hall of Famers PLAY Ball in Cooperstown in Support of Museum’s Education Programs
01.01.2023
Alex Rodriguez Donates Bat Used for His 2,000th RBI to Hall of Fame
01.01.2023