I hate it when articles....

[JCline0429]

...don't mention Appalachian:

Ronald Wray Hodges (born June 22, 1949 in Rocky Mount, Virginia) was a Major League Baseball catcher. He spent his entire twelve year career with the New York Mets.

Hodges was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign. He was also drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round (15th pick) of the 1971 amateur draft (Secondary Phase), and the Atlanta Braves in the first round (tenth overall) of the 1971 amateur draft (Secondary Phase Active), but chose not to sign with either of those teams as well. Eventually, he signed with the Mets, who selected him in the second round of the 1972 amateur draft (Secondary Phase).

During just his second professional season, Hodges was promoted to the major league roster when injuries afflicted the Mets' other catchers, Jerry Grote and Duffy Dyer. He made his major league debut on June 13, 1973, catching Tom Seaver.[1] Four days later, he hit his first career home run off the San Diego Padres' Bill Greif.[2] Hodges stayed with the Mets for the remainder of the season, batting .260 with eighteen runs batted in and just the one home run. He was on the Mets' postseason roster in 1973 and played in one game in the 1973 World Series, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance.

Hodges retired in 1984 with 666 games, 1426 at bats, nineteen home runs, 147 RBIs, a batting average of .240 and an on-base percentage of .342.

Hodges currently sells real estate at "Mountain To Lake" in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Relatives include Joshua