A Met for more than a decade, he was known for his powerful arm and his savvy in calling pitches.
Jerry Grote, who was among the National League’s leading catchers of his time and guided the pitching staff that propelled the New York Mets to their astonishing 1969 World Series championship, died on Sunday in Austin, Texas. He was 81.
The Mets confirmed his death through social media and in a statement on the team’s blog.