By Vasantha
The 1969 World Series champion and former New York Mets first baseman died on Monday.
Sunday's cardiac arrest in Boca Raton, Fla. killed Mets lifetime player Ed Kranepool, 79. "We are incredibly heartbroken to learn of Ed Kranepool’s passing," Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said.
"He debuted at 17 in 1962 as an original Met. He played with the Mets for 18 years, the longest in franchise history, after commencing at James Monroe High School in the Bronx.
He played 1,853 games. Ed's home run in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series helped the Miracle Mets win.
He entered the Mets Hall of Fame in 1990. After retiring from football, Ed worked tirelessly for the organization in the community.
We enjoyed our time with Ed on Old Timers' Day and subsequently. Ed telling Mets history was great. His family and friends are in our prayers."
Bronx native Kranepool was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent aged 17 in 1962. The next youngest Mets player was six years older than him when he was called up in September 1962.
The left-handed hitter and first baseman was most known for the 1969 "Miracle Mets" World Series win over the Baltimore Orioles.
The Mets won the division after overcoming a tough midseason and taking advantage of the division-leading Chicago Cubs' late-season collapse.