Maury Wills, Gil Hodges fall short in Hall of Fame Golden Era vote

SAN DIEGO -- Offense was down throughout baseball in 2014, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame Golden Era Committee followed suit by pitching a shutout on Monday, electing none of the 10 members on the 2014 ballot, including Dodgers legends Maury Wills and Gil Hodges.

Wills received nine votes from the 16-person panel, three votes shy of induction. Hodges received three or fewer votes, as the committee wasn't specific for those with low vote totals.

The closest to induction were Dick Allen and Tony Oliva, both falling one shy with 11 votes.

This was the first time for Wills on the Golden Era ballot, which is the revamped veterans committee. Veterans who didn't receive induction by the Baseball Writers Association of America were split into three time periods, with the Golden Era comprising those whose contributions came primarily in between 1947-1972.

Wills was a five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner at shortstop, and won the National League MVP in 1962 when he set a record with 104 stolen bases, since broken. Wills hit .281/.330/.331, an 88 OPS+ in his 14-year career, including 12 seasons with the Dodgers. He led the NL in stolen bases for six consecutive seasons (1960-65) and is the Dodgers' all-time franchise leader with 490 steals.

Hodges was on the 2011 ballot and received nine votes.

Hodges was an eight-time All-Star with the Dodgers, hitting .273/.359/.487, a 120 OPS+ in his 18-year career, including 16 seasons in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Hodges ranks second all-time in Dodgers franchise history in home runs (361) and RBI (1,254). Gold Glove Awards didn't come into existence until Hodges was 33, in 1957, but he won the first three awards at first base.