Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

Even if you are too young to remember Gomer Hodge's blazing start for Cleveland in 1971, you might have been touched by the outpouring of affection for him in recent months. Hodge, who died Sunday at age 63 after a long battle with Lou Gehring's disease, said he was greatly cheered over the past months by all the cards and letters he received from Indians fans.

Hodge's son, Nick, wrote to me last summer after I mentioned "Gomer the Great" in a blog. Nick asked if I had any specific memories of his dad, which, of course, I did. I was in the stands at Municipal Stadium on the frigid April day in '71 when Gomer came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of the home opener and lined a base hit. An inning later, he lashed the game-winning hit.

In all, he cracked four hits in his first four trips to the plate. He won over Cleveland's sportswriters and fans by proudly proclaiming, "Wow, I'm hitting 4.000!"

His batting prowess didn't last, and Hodge ended the season with a .205 average. He did rap out 16 pinch hits, however, which is a pretty respectable number. By year's end, he was banished to the minors, never to return to the big leagues again.

Those were dark years for the Indians. They finished last in their division with a record of 60-102 and the front office was in complete turmoil. Alvin Dark, who'd wrested control of the club from Gabe Paul, was fired late in the season by owner Vernon Stouffer.

Sam McDowell, my all-time favorite Indians pitcher, was traded at year's end for Gaylord Perry and Frank Duffy, which actually turned out to be a good deal for Cleveland.

But early in the season, when fans cling to any shred of hope, Gomer Hodge lifted our spirits. After I wrote about Nick Hodge's request for information about his dad from fans, many Tribe rooters in Erie wrote back to say they'd called or e-mailed the Hodges. In September, I received a nice note from Gomer's wife, Linda Hodge, who said she was so grateful for the outpouring of good will from Indians fans in Erie.

Nick Hodge said his father often talked about his season with the Indians -- his only year in the big leagues out of the more than three decades he spent in baseball. "My father spent a lot of time in Class A ball, but he loved it," Nick said. "He just enjoyed being around the game -- the players, fans, sportswriters, everything and everybody. He's really challenged physically, but he has so many fond memories to sustain him."

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Andre Thornton. The Thunder Man finished with 214 home runs for the Indians.

Today's quiz: Here's another question about Tribe first basemen of note. Name the player who slugged 27 homers for the Indians in 1975. In 1970, he was named American League MVP, though he didn't play for Cleveland at the time.

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-- Kevin Cuneo