Ed Kranepool, a cherished member of the original New York Mets, passed away at the age of 79 in Boca Raton, Florida, due to cardiac arrest.
Kranepool, who spent 18 seasons with the Mets from their inaugural year in 1962, is one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.
“We are incredibly heartbroken to learn of Ed Kranepool’s passing,” Mets owner Steve 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.”
Born and raised in New York City, Kranepool attended James Monroe High School in the Bronx, where he broke Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg’s home run record.
Signed by the expansion Mets with an $80,000 bonus, he debuted as a 17-year-old in 1962.
Over his career, he played 1,853 games for the team, a franchise record that still stands.
Cleon Jones, a former teammate and fellow outfielder, recalled their bond: “I just spoke to Ed last week, and we talked about how we were the last two originals who signed with the Mets,” he said
“Eddie was a big bonus baby and I wasn’t. He never had an ego and was just one of the guys. He was a wonderful person.”
Kranepool was an All-Star in 1965 and played a key role in the Mets’ 1969 Miracle season, when the team won their first World Series title against the Baltimore Orioles.
Though Kranepool only appeared in one game during the series, he made it count, hitting a memorable home run in the eighth inning of Game 3, helping the Mets secure a 5-0 victory.
Throughout his 18-year career, which included a National League pennant in 1973, Kranepool amassed 1,418 hits, 2,047 total bases, and 614 RBIs, placing him among the Mets’ all-time leaders.
He was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990.
Art Shamsky, a teammate from the 1969 Mets, expressed his deep sorrow at Kranepool’s passing. “Just devastated. I knew Krane for 56 years. We did so many appearances together. We had lunch last week, and I told him I would be there next week to see him again. I’m really at a loss for words,” Shamsky said.
“I can’t believe he’s the fourth guy from our 1969 team to pass this year – [Jim] McAndrew, [Jerry] Grote, Buddy [Harrelson], and now Eddie.”
In 2019, after battling kidney failure, Kranepool received a life-saving transplant following years of searching for a match. Despite his health struggles, he remained resilient and optimistic.
“He battled for so long and never complained,” said Ron Swoboda, another former teammate. “I thought once he got his kidney transplant, things would be great. He was a wonderful guy and an even better teammate… I can’t believe he is gone.”
Thoughts and prayers to Kranepool’s family and friends.
RIP.