Subject: would an iorn rod wacked against a fire hydrant make a magnet

If I wacked an iorn rod against a fire hydrant would it make a magnet?
I once watched a -you guessed it- MacGyver eppisode where he created a magnet 
by hitting an iorn rod against a fire hydrant. I am studdying magnetism and 
electricity in school right now and I don't know if this would really work. 
The show tends to be correct about these sort of things- they don't usually 
take a lot of creative license when it comes to science...
Signed, 
One Curious MacGyver Fan

Re: would an iorn rod wacked against a fire hydrant make a magnet