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Ed Kranepool, the longest-tenured New York Met who played a pivotal role on the 1969 World Series champions, died Sunday after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was 79 years old.
Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen released a statement upon news of his death.
"We are incredibly heartbroken to learn of Ed Kranepool's passing. He was an original Met, who debuted at age 17 in 1962. After starring at James Monroe High School in the Bronx, he would go on to play for his hometown team for the next 18 years, the longest tenured player in franchise history, appearing in 1,853 games with the Mets.