Ed Kranepool, the longest-tenured player in New York Mets history and an integral member of the 1969 “Miracle Mets,” has died at the age of 79. Born in The Bronx on November 8, 1944, he signed with the Mets at just 17 and made his major league debut on September 22, 1962—becoming an original Met—a franchise he would loyally represent for 18 seasons (mlb.com).
A left-handed first baseman with a distinct New York accent, Kranepool debuted during the Mets’ infamous inaugural season. Yet it was in 1969, during baseball’s greatest underdog story, that he cemented his legacy. He belted a key home run in Game 3 of the World Series, helping the Mets clinch their first-ever championship . That moment became part of baseball lore—and one of the most cherished chapters in New York sports history.
Over his 18-year career—all spent at Shea Stadium and Citi Field—Kranepool appeared in 1,853 games, hit 118 homers, and drove in 614 runs, finishing with a .261 batting average (mlb.com). He remains the Mets’ all-time leader in games played, and ranks among the franchise’s top career leaders in hits, RBI, and plate appearances (mlb.com).
Kranepool made the All-Star team in 1965 and was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990. More than just stats, however, he was beloved for his loyalty, humility, and adaptability—including shifting to a pinch-hitting and part-time role later in his career (en.wikipedia.org).
After retiring in 1979, he pursued ventures as a stockbroker, restaurateur, and even an ESPN cameo. Off the field, he battled diabetes, endured a toe amputation in 2017, and underwent a successful kidney transplant in 2019—allowing him to participate in the Mets’ 50th‑anniversary celebrations of the ’69 team (mlb.com).
Mets owner Steve Cohen released a heartfelt statement:
“We are incredibly heartbroken to learn of Ed Kranepool’s passing… Ed hit a home run in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series… He continued to work tirelessly in the community… Hearing Mets stories and history from Ed was an absolute joy.” (mlb.com)
Teammates echoed the sentiment. Jerry Koosman praised his first‑base instincts; Ron Swoboda and Art Shamsky remembered him as a “wonderful guy and even better teammate” (espn.com).
Beyond his on-field heroics, Kranepool symbolized commitment—the last Met to play from both the inaugural 1962 and championship 1969 teams. He was, as one former teammate said, the “Mr. Met”—through and through (en.wikipedia.org).
His death on September 8, 2024, in Boca Raton, Florida, followed a sudden cardiac arrest (mcmahonfuneralhome.com). But what endures is a legacy etched in Mets history—a player whose loyalty, character, and clutch moments made him a lasting icon in Queens and beyond.
Ed Kranepool, Mets legend who won 1969 World Series, dead at 79
- the-sun.com
- nypost.com
- nypost.com
Kranepool, a left-handed hitting first baseman who was a member of the Mets’ first two World Series teams, had received a kidney transplant in 2019. He also suffered from diabetes.
“He battled for so long and never complained about anything,” teammate Ron Swoboda said of Kranepool. “I thought once he got his kidney transplant things would be great. He was a wonderful guy and even better teammate. We went into the restaurant business together. I can’t believe he is gone.
