Joan Hodges, the widow of Baseball Hall of Fame member Gil Hodges, died Saturday night after a lengthy illness. She would have turned 96 in 10 days.

The New York Mets announced her passing on Sunday. Gil Hodges managed the Mets from 1968 to 1971, leading the team to an unexpected World Series title in 1969.

Hodges earlier managed the Washington Senators 1963-67, at the conclusion of his playing career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1943, 1947-61) and Mets (1962-63).

After decades of debate about Hodges’ worthiness for Hall of Fame consideration, the Golden Era Committee elected him as part of the Class of 2022. He was enshrined on July 24, with his daughter, Irene Hodges, speaking on behalf of her family.

“We are thankful that Joan was able to see Gil inducted into the Hall of Fame in July,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a team statement. “That meant so much to her and the entire Mets and Hodges family. She was a true baseball fan and still followed her two favorite teams, the Mets and Dodgers. We send our condolences to her daughters, Irene and Cindy, her son Gil Jr. and the rest of the Hodges family.”

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Joan Hodges, the widow of Gil Hodges. https://t.co/7DraIJyNfW

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 18, 2022

Gil Hodges died of a heart attack after a round of golf in Florida on April 2, 1972, two days shy of his 48th birthday.

–Field Level Media