Ed Kranepool, longest-tenured player in New York Mets history and member of Miracle Mets, dies at 79
Ed Kranepool, the longest-tenured player in New York Mets history and a member of the Miracle Mets when they won the 1969 World Series, died Sunday.
Ed Kranepool, the longest-tenured player in New York Mets history and a member of the Miracle Mets when they won the 1969 World Series, died Sunday. He was 79.
The team said in a statement Monday that Kranepool died Sunday after suffering from cardiac arrest in Boca Raton, Florida. A native of New York, the first baseman/outfielder spent 18 seasons with the Mets, hitting .261 over 1,853 regular-season games. He was an All-Star in 1965.
Kranepool was part of New York’s magical run from National League laughingstock to a World Series title in 1969. He was inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 1990.
“The best first baseman I ever played with,” pitcher Jerry Koosman said in a statement. “We knew each other so well and I could tell by his eyes if a runner was going or not. He saved me a lot of stolen bases.”
Former New York Met Ed Kranepool at Citi Field in 2022 in New York City.Jim McIsaac / Getty Images fileA standout player at James Monroe High School in the Bronx, Kranepool made his major league debut on Sept. 22, 1962, at 17 years old. He went 0 for 1 that day against the Chicago Cubs. His final game was Sept. 30, 1979, against St. Louis. He had a pinch-hit double off Bob Forsch.Kranepool finished with 1,418 career hits and 118 homers in the regular season. He homered in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series.
Rating: 5