baseball : NEW YORK YANKEES CELEBRATE THE ELECTION OF JOE GORDON TO THE HALL OF FAME

Former New York Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame today by the Veterans Committee. He received 10 of a possible 12 votes (83.3%) from Veterans Committee members who voted on the pre-1943 ballot, with 75.0% needed for election. The ballot he was on featured players who began their big league careers before 1943.

Gordon played seven seasons with the Yankees (1938-43, ’46) and was part of five Yankees pennant winning teams (1938-39, ’41-43), including four World Series champions (1938-39, ’41, ‘43). In 1942, he won the American League MVP Award after batting .322 with 18 home runs and 103 RBI. He becomes the second Yankees second baseman enshrined in the Hall of Fame, joining Tony Lazzeri, whom Gordon replaced following the 1937 season.

Prior to the 1947 season, Gordon was traded to the Cleveland Indians (for Allie Reynolds), where he played four seasons (1947-50) before retiring. Overall, he was a nine-time AL All-Star, making the team every year he was with the Yankees aside from his rookie season in 1938. He finished his career with a .268 lifetime batting average, 253 home runs and 975 RBI, hitting at least 10 home runs in each of his 11 Major League seasons. Gordon did not play in the Majors from 1944-45 due to military service.


Quotes regarding Gordon’s election to the Hall of Fame:

“As a young man in Cleveland, I remember what a spectacular ballplayer Joe Gordon was. He was a great second baseman, a great Yankee and an inspiration to millions of Americans for many years. The Yankees are proud of his election.”

George M. Steinbrenner (Yankees Chairperson)

"Joe Gordon was a real good guy and darn good ballplayer. He was a big part of the Yankees in the '40s. When we traded him for (Allie) Reynolds, it was just one of those good exchanges. He helped Cleveland a lot and Allie really helped us. It's great that Joe made the Hall; I think Allie should be in, too."

Yogi Berra (Hall of Fame member, teammate in 1946, played against Gordon from 1947-50)

“Joe was a terrific second baseman whose career paralleled Bobby Doerr. He was a great fielder who had great range. He didn’t hit for a high average, but he would hit for power. He was a great fielder and a great guy.”

Bobby Brown (teammate in 1946, played against Gordon from 1947-50)

“It’s about time and 40 years too late. I voted for him and campaigned for him [for the Hall of Fame] every year. He was one of the greats of the game—a truly brilliant defensive player. To me, he was the perfect second baseman with his ability to turn the double play and hit for power in such a difficult hitter’s park as Yankee Stadium. He made Phil Rizzuto and Lou Boudreau better. He wasn’t just good, he was great.”

Jerry Coleman (played against Gordon from 1949-50)