Thursday, 16 April 2026

Russ Hodges

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Commentators 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Baseball, Football & Boxing
Statistics & Accolades: National Sports Media Hall of Fame
Ford C. Frick Award
Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame
“The Giants win the Pennant! The Giants win the Pennant! The Giants win the Pennant!”

Before Russ Hodges began his association with the Giants, he had already called games for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, and Cincinnati Reds. After moving to New York, he called games for both the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. While he was doing double duty, it was his famed call when Bobby Thomson capped off the biggest regular season comeback in baseball history to overtake the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League.

Hodges’ call took a life of its own.

Since then, Hodges followed the Giants when they relocated to San Francisco and remained their voice until 1970.

In addition to his baseball work, Hodges did the play-by-play for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers and was an accomplished boxing announcer, having called multiple heavyweight title matches, including the 1964 Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston fight.

We are proud to nominate Russ Hodges for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.