Russell Pleasant Hodges, born on June 18, 1910, in Dayton, Tennessee, is celebrated as one of the iconic voices in Major League Baseball's history of broadcasting. After studying at the University of Kentucky, Hodges embarked on his broadcasting career in 1934, initially serving as the sports editor for WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina. His career took him to Washington, D.C., where he covered the Washington Redskins, before moving through the ranks of Major League Baseball. Hodges provided play-by-play commentary for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, and Cincinnati Reds. However, his most enduring association was with the New York Giants, whom he followed to San Francisco, becoming a beloved figure in Bay Area sports broadcasting.

Russ Hodges' name is synonymous with one of the most dramatic moments in sports history — his call of Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951. This home run, which clinched the National League pennant for the Giants, was immortalized by Hodges' exuberant declaration, "The Giants won the pennant! The Giants won the pennant!" His spontaneous reaction to Thomson's homer not only encapsulated the thrill of baseball but also became a seminal moment in broadcast history, thanks to a fan who recorded the broadcast at home. This call remains a touchstone in sports commentary, echoed in various other championship calls across different sports.

Towards the end of his career and life, Hodges continued to voice Giants games until he retired in 1970. He passed away on April 19, 1971, in Mill Valley, California, at the age of 60. Posthumously, Hodges has been honored extensively: he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1975 and received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. The San Francisco Giants also named their broadcast booths at their new ballpark after Hodges, cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in baseball broadcasting. His career, marked by its historic call and dedication to the sport, continues to be celebrated and remembered by baseball aficionados and the broadcasting community alike.

🎙️