NEW YORK — The New York Mets unfortunately lost a franchise legend last week, as it was announced that beloved icon Ed Kranepool passed away at the age of 79-years-old.
The passing of any member of the 1969 Mets is going to evoke sadness, but the death of Ed Kranepool was a gut punch to baby boomers. He played eighteen seasons (1962-1979) for the Mets, which meant for those of a certain age, he was the Mets first baseman from early grade school until finishing grad school.
While Ed Kranepool was never the superstar the Mets were hoping for when they signed him out of James Monroe High School in the Bronx, he was a good contract hitter who flashed occasional pop and was a terrific fielder. That is why many sportswriters and fans referred to him as “Steady Eddie.”
Ed Kranepool rides in the Mets parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 championship at Citi Field on Saturday, June 29, 2019 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
I spoke with longtime Mets broadcaster, and Cardozo High School and Queens College alum, Howie Rose, about him on Saturday in Philadelphia before the Mets-Phillies game. “He was a nice man who enjoyed speaking to Mets fans. He was also not afraid to say what was on his mind.”
Howie was certainly right about Ed’s candor which came through in his autobiography, “The Last Miracle” (Triumph Books), which was published last year. I interviewed him on the phone last fall when he was promoting it.
Like most Bronx natives, he was a big Yankees fan, and his childhood team wanted to sign him. This was before the advent of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. “The Chicago White Sox also made me a solid offer. I saw the expansion Mets as the fastest way to get to the majors,” he said.
Kranepool was correct in his assessment, but it came with a price. He admitted he would have had better big-league stats had he spent more time in the minors.
Ed Kranepool of the the ‘69 Mets received keys to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio during the Mets’ 2019 celebration to honor the ’69 Mets – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Donald Grant, the Mets’ chairman when Kranepool was a player, has long been a villain for Mets fans for his imperious attitude which led him to trading Tom Seaver in 1977. Surprisingly, Ed spoke highly of him. “He was always fair and straight with me. As far as the Seaver trade went, he knew nothing about baseball talent on other teams. I told Joe McDonald, who was the Mets general manager at the time, that the Dodgers were willing to put together a package which included Don Sutton, Pedro Guerrero, Lee Lacy, and others for Seaver. He ignored me and would up accepting a vastly inferior return from the Reds.”
He also blamed McDonald for selecting Yogi Berra instead of Whitey Herzog to be the Mets manager when Gil Hodges died in April 1972. “That decision set the Mets back a decade,” he told me.
He was part of a syndicate, led by financier Robert Abplanalp, to buy the Mets from the Payson family in 1979. Joan Payson’s daughter, Lorinda de Roulet, wound up selling to Nelson Doubleday, a fact which rankled Ed. “We weren’t part of her horsey set,” Ed fumed.
Kranepool was a free agent at the end of the 1979 season. He received some offers from other teams, but he elected to retire.
Ed Kranepool, Jon Matlack, Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez, Edgar Alfonzo, and Rey Ordoñez posing for a photo at Citi Field – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Joe Torre, the Mets manager at the time, promised he would add him to his coaching staff, when he hung up his spikes, but he reneged. Kranepool never forgave him for that, and they never spoke again.
The Yankees showed a ton of class by holding a minute of silence for Kranepool on Monday before the start of their game with the Royals. While he never wore the deep blue pinstripes, he grew up in the Bronx and was a New York icon.
Yankees host second annual Hispanic Heritage Media Day, and announce Armando Talavera Summer Internship
Members of the Talavera family pose for a photo on Tuesday afternoon after the Yankees announced the Armando Talavera Summer Internship during Hispanic Heritage Media Day – Image Credit: Latino Sports
The Bronx Bombers also honored the late Hispanic sportscaster and journalist, as well as longtime Flushing resident, Armando Talavera, by establishing a paid summer internship for a Lehman College journalism or public relations student.
Queens Tourism Council in the Building for US Open
The Queens Tourism Council, which is part of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, smartly had a kiosk at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the US Open to let patrons know of the terrific restaurants, hotels, and points of interest the “World’s Borough” has.
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow Park – Image Credit: US OPEN/IBM
With the Philadelphia Phillies coming into town from Thursday to Sunday, they should have a kiosk in front of Citi Field to promote the restaurants in Flushing and Corona which are within walking distance of the ballpark. Many Phillies fans take mass transit or drive to Queens to see their favorite team take on the Mets, and I am certain many would like to discover the surrounding neighborhoods if they were aware of what they have to offer.
John Leguizamo at Broadcasting & Cable Magazine’s NYC TV Week conference
Actor-comedian John Leguizamo, who grew up in Jackson Heights, was a panelist at Broadcasting & Cable Magazine’s NYC TV Week conference last week to promote his upcoming PBS three-part series, “American Historia,” which examines the contributions Hispanics have made to our civilization over the centuries.
Leguizamo is also a big Mets fan. I asked him if he was optimistic about the Mets making the playoffs. “I don’t know if they’ll go all the way, but they will make it.” he enthusiastically replied. It should be noted this was before anyone knew of shortstop, and Mets MVP, Francisco Lindor’s back problems.
A Fan Favorite for all New Yorkers, Francisco Lindor – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Lindor’s absence may have resulted in two late inning agonizing losses to the Phillies over the weekend. He added, “I really feel good about the Knicks this season!” Madison Square Garden officials should make sure Leguizamo has a seat in celebrity row this season.
More from Broadcasting & Cable Magazine’s NYC TV Week conference
Another hot business topic at the Broadcasting & Cable forum was the bankruptcy of regional cable sports networks in many parts of the country. These cable networks overpaid for the privilege of televising the games of professional sports teams and are now stuck as many consumers have been “cutting the cord,” and going instead with streaming services.
The Money Game available now on Prime Video
Prime Video has launched a six-part documentary series on the opportunities college athletes now have to garner endorsement deals through use of their name, image, and likeness (commonly referred to now as “NIL” deals) in “The Money Game.”
Image Credit: Prime Video
The focus is on the many top athletes from Louisiana State University. Some like QB Jayden Daniels, women’s hoops star Angel Reese, and gymnast and social media sensation Olivia Dunne, had no trouble lining up sponsors. Not surprisingly, it is a rougher go for student-athletes in less popular sports such as track & field, especially those who did not qualify for the USA Olympic team such as the personable Alia Armstrong.
The expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to a dozen has led to an increase in sponsorship opportunities as well as ESPN telecasts. The American watchmaker, AXIA, has signed a deal to be the official watch of the CFP.
Vic Dibitetto set to headline at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City on October 19
Comedian Vic Dibitetto, a former Staten Island school bus driver who has become a YouTube sensation because he is a diehard Giants fan. One of his best bits is where he plays a Giants coach who is addressing his players in a profanity-laced postgame rant.
Dibitetto is headlining at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on October 19. The Giants had better win a few games by then!
Happy New York Giants Monday everybody!! Nothing like playing like clowns while wearing clown outfits!!! Well, I'm funny BUT NOT LIKE A CLOWN!!! See all these shows listed? Come to one and meet and greet me and we'll all have a great time! pic.twitter.com/rHgTheYpZm
— Vic DiBitetto (@vicdibitetto) September 9, 2024
Have I Got News for You on CNN
It is hard to escape college football on Saturday nights since linear television networks tend to show repeats. CNN is attempting to counterprogram with a new 9PM show, “Have I Got News for You,” in which comedians Michael Ian Black, Amber Ruffin, and Roy Wood Jr. poke fun at both boldfaced names and obscure stories. The show is based on a British program, “Have We Got News for You,” but it incorporates some of the shtick from ESPN’s daily sports panel show, “Around the Horn.”
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
