“Ed hit a home run in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series to help the Miracle Mets capture the title. 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. 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.”
Kranepool, who was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990, has been around the team in recent years, as the Cohens mentioned, spending time at Citi Field in Queens for Old Timers’ Day, and in 2019, joined some of his old teammates from the 1969 “Miracle Mets” for the team’s 50th anniversary of its first World Series title.
Kranepool was diagnosed with diabetes shortly after retirement, and in 2017 he needed a toe removed due to an infected abscess. The infection, though, could not be controlled because his kidneys were failing.
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In 2019, Kranepool had a successful kidney transplant, which former teammate Ron Swoboda said made things better for him.
“He battled for so long and never complained about anything,” Swoboda said, per the Mets. “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.”
