Former USC and Buchser High School (Santa Clara) Baseball player Dave Hogdins Passes Away

Great player, even greater human!

October 30, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 30, 2026

Buchser High School in Santa Clara is mourning the loss of Dave (David) Hodgins, a great athlete and alumnus from the Class of 1977.

According to his sister, Ann Finucane, Dave passed away at the end of September, after a courageous battle with cancer and complications.

Former teammates and friends from the High School will never forget him as a terrific athlete who excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball.

Though he was excellent in many sports, he was at the top of his game in baseball. After graduating from high school, Hodgins played college baseball at the University of Southern California (USC).

An Excellent Athlete

Dave played as the catcher for the USC Trojans from 1978 through 1980. He also helped the team win the 1978 NCAA College World Series championships.

Before starting college, he was also selected in the MLB draft (51st overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays, but he chose to attend university instead.

Hogdins, to date, is one of USC and Santa Clara’s finest athletes, who excelled not just in one or two, but in numerous sports, and was known not for his on-field skills but for his quiet leadership and kindness.

Ann Finuncance broke the news of Santa Clara. (Source: Facebook)

A fan of the Elks Lodge baseball team of Santa Clara Wrote, “My sincere condolences. I remember when he played on the Elks Lodge baseball team at Santa Clara East Side Little League. He would hit home runs that landed on the playground about 230 feet from home plate. He obviously was an excellent athlete. RIP Dave.”

His former teammate added, “I am saddened by this David was a teammate for along long time the best baseball player in all of SC had such a great rapport with him.”

Numerous other members of the Buchser/USC community have expressed deep condolences to Hodgins’s family.

Kathleen Crane wrote, “So sorry for your loss. I’ve thought about Dave over the years. He was one of the quiet ones…and so good looking. I’m not sure when your family moved to Santa Clara but I know that I knew him as early as Pomeroy. I hope that, before the cancer, he had a good, happy life. Thinking good thoughts for your family and that you smile when you think of him.”

He also apparently had a season record with 15 Home Runs while playing for the Lodge, which is still active and has been tied three times.

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Anish Koirala has loved sports since he was a kid. He grew up playing basketball and soccer, and that passion stayed with him over the years. Today, Anish works as a writer and editor, sharing his knowledge and love for the game through articles and stories. He uses his playing experience to make his writing clear, thoughtful, and fun to read.

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