Jerry Grote, the catcher who played a crucial role in turning around the New York Mets from a team that often lost to becoming the champion of the 1969 World Series, passed away on Sunday. He was 81 years old.
Grote had been dealing with heart problems and died at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas. According to Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz, Grote was scheduled for a medical procedure but died due to respiratory failure during it.
A two-time All-Star, Grote spent 16 seasons in the major leagues and had a batting average of .252 with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in (RBIs).
“Jerry was the backbone of a young Mets team that captured the heart of New York City,” said Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife Alix in a statement.
Grote began his career with the Houston Colt .45s before joining the Mets in 1965. His arrival coincided with the Mets’ rise from a struggling team to a championship-winning one in 1969. The Mets, initially an expansion team in 1962, had a rough start but had a remarkable turnaround in 1969.
“We weren’t expected to achieve much,” Grote recalled during the 50th anniversary celebration in 2019. “But we exceeded all expectations.” Grote played a significant role in nurturing a young pitching staff, including stars like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Gary Gentry.
The Mets secured their first-ever division lead on September 10th, finishing the season with a record of 100-62 to win the NL East. They then went on to sweep the NL Championship Series against Atlanta and beat the heavily favored Baltimore in the World Series.
“He was the one who held the pitching staff together,” said Mets star Cleon Jones. In 1968, Grote made his first All-Star appearance, starting for the National League in the All-Star Game and batting .282.
During the 1969 season, he batted .252 with six home runs and 40 RBIs, starting in 100 games as a catcher, on the night the Mets took the division lead, Grote caught all 21 innings of a doubleheader sweep against Montreal.
Grote played every inning of the postseason, contributing crucial hits like a single in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series and a double in Game 4.
