Mets Great Ed Kranepool Dies at 79

New York Mets great Ed Kranepool, the first baseman on their first World Series championship team in 1969, died on Monday. He was 79 years old. The team said in a statement that Kranepool suffered from cardiac arrest in Boca Raton, FL.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mets Hall of Famer Ed Kranepool. Full statement: https://t.co/GvmqlxGCwz pic.



twitter.com/pRANx1RAaB — New York Mets (@Mets) September 9, 2024 Mets Great Ed Kranepool Has Died at 79 Kranepool was the longest-tenured Met in franchise history. He spent his entire career in the orange and blue, beginning with the team’s infamous inaugural season in 1962 and retiring in 1979.

An All-Star in 1965, Kranepool’s career saw both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Mercifully for him, he didn’t debut until September of 1962, a year in which the Mets compiled the worst record (40-120) in MLB’s modern era, a record that the Chicago White Sox might well break this season . However, he endured several losing seasons before the “Miracle Mets” reached the mountaintop against all odds in 1969, defeating the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles in five games in that year’s Fall Classic.

Kranepool only appeared in one game in that series, but made it count, hitting a solo shot to give New York a 5-0 lead in Game 3. Four years later, the Mets made another unlikely pennant run. The 1973 team clawed their way from the NL East basement to win the division and then reach the World Series.

Unfortunately, the Mets fell in a hard-fought seven-game battle against another American League juggernaut, the Oakland Athletics . Kranepool was hitless in three at-bats in the series. In his 18-season career, Kranepool finished with a .

261 average, 118 home runs, 614 RBI, and a .693 OPS. He also had 225 doubles and scored 536 runs.

His 1,418 career hits remained the franchise record for years until David Wright and Jose Reyes surpassed the mark. Kranepool was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990. After his playing days, he frequently appeared at Shea Stadium and Citi Field for team reunions and other special occasions.

Longtime teammate Jerry Koosman called Kranepool “the best first baseman I ever played with” in a statement on Monday. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission..