The team added in a statement that Kranepool died Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest in Boca Raton, Florida.
Former New York Mets player Ed Kranepool passed away on Sunday; he was the longest-serving player in the Met’s history and was a member of the Miracle Mets, who won the 1969 World Series. He was 79.
In a statement, the team added that Kranepool passed on Sunday after he had a cardiac arrest in Boca Raton, Florida. Born in New York City, the first baseman/outfielder played his entire 18-year career with the Mets, with 261 players playing over 1,853 regular-season games. He was an All-Star in the 1963/64 season but more productive in the 1965 season.
Kranepool was involved in the New York team’s transformation from a National League joke to the World Series Championship of 1969. The following year, he became a valued member of the team’s Hall of Fame after being inducted in 1990.
”The best first baseman I ever played with,” pitcher Jerry Koosman said in a statement. “We knew each other perfectly well, and I knew from looking into his eyes whether a runner was going, and he saved me several bases stolen.”
To some, Kranepool was a high school star of James Monroe High School in the Bronx who joined the majors when he was barely 17 years old after a game on September 22, 19,62. This was his last game on the field, and it took place on September 30, 1979, against St. Louis. As for Kranepool, he has extensive totals in the regular season with 1418 hits while having 118 home runs.
Pitcher Jay Hook, who spent 1962–64 with the Mets, recalled that Kranepool gave him a ride to the park and used his signing bonus to purchase a Thunderbird. Ron Swoboda said, “Kranepool is a wonderful guy and an even better teammate”. They entered the restaurant industry together, according to Swoboda.
1969 All-Star outfielder Cleon Jones claimed to have spoken with Kranepool just last week.
