Ed Kranepool - Pinch-hitter

Pinch-hitter

Matinee idol centerfielder Lee Mazzilli became the face of the organization. Kranepool, perhaps as a symbol of the Mets' past glory, emerged as something as a fan favorite as well, despite a limited pinch hitting role he'd been relegated to at this point in his career. From 1974 through 1978, Kranepool hit .396 as a pinch hitter, batting .486 (17-for-35) in the role in 1974, still the major league single-season pinch hit batting average record. After the Mets traded Jerry Koosman at the end of the 1978 season, Kranepool became the last of the 1969 Miracle Mets.

When he retired after the 1979 season at the age of 34, he left as the all-time club leader in eight offensive categories, of which he still leads in two: (at-bats: 5436, and sacrifice flies: 58). He has also played more games in a Met uniform (1853) than any other player. He would become a legend among Met fans for playing eighteen seasons, all of them with the Mets. No other Met player has ever played for the team for that long. He was the last of the 1962 Mets to remain with the team, and the last of that team to retire from Major League Baseball.

Though still relatively young at this time, he was only useful as long as his pinch-hits kept dropping in. He had also reportedly had some friction with the team's ownership group, led by Lorinda DeRoulet, that was controlling the team after Payson's death. When the team was sold after the 1979 season to a group headed by Nelson Doubleday Jr. and Fred Wilpon, Kranepool was part of one of the groups offering a losing bid.

Seasons Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO Avg. Slg. SF
18 1853 5436 536 1418 225 25 118 614 15 454 581 .261 .377 58

Kranepool had a career fielding percentage at first base of .994 and .975 as an outfielder.

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