Former New York Mets first baseman and outfielder Ed Kranepool, the longest tenured player in franchise history, has died, the team announced. He was 79.
Kranepool died Monday in Boca Raton, Florida, due to cardiac arrest, the Mets said in a news release.
Kranepool, a New York City native, made his Major League Baseball debut at age 17 in 1962 for the Mets, which was in its inaugural year as an MLB franchise. He played his entire, 18-year MLB career with the Mets, highlighted by helping lead the “Miracle Mets” to winning the 1969 World Series.
The southpaw thrower and hitter played 1,853 career games for the Mets, hitting .261 with 118 home runs, 614 RBI and a .693 OPS. He was named a National League All-Star at age 20 during his fourth season in 1965.
Kranepool retired from MLB at age 34 in 1979. He was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990.
“Ed continued to work tirelessly in the community on behalf of the organization after his playing career ended,” Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “We cherished the time we spent with Ed during Old Timers’ Day and in the years since. Hearing Mets stories and history from Ed was an absolute joy. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.”
