New York Mets Hall of Famer and tenacious catcher of their 1969 World Series winning team, Jerry Grote, passed away at the age of 81 at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute in Austin, TX on Sunday, the team announced.
“We are incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Jerry Grote,” a statement from Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen read. “The Mets Hall of Famer was the backbone of a young Mets team who captured the heart of New York City in 1969… We are grateful that Jerry was able to reunite with his teammates one last time during the 1969 World Series reunion at Citi Field in 2019. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cheryl, family and friends.”
Grote spent 12 of his 16 MLB seasons with the Mets from 1966-1977 where he was considered now of the finest defensive catchers of his time. He was a two-time All-Star who backstopped some of the greatest rotations in team history, featuring the likes of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Jon Matlack.
“He was the best defensive catcher in the NL when he played,” his former teammate, Ed Kranepool, said. “Johnny Bench once told me ‘If he was on the Reds, I would be playing third base.’”
As the starting catcher for the Miracle Mets in 1969, he not only guided New York pitchers through an imposing Baltimore Orioles lineup headlined by Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson, but he scored a run and drove in another with a sixth-inning double in a Game 3, 5-0 victory against Hall-of-Fame pitcher, Jim Palmer.
“He was the reason for my success,” Koosman, who recorded the final out of Game 5 with Grote behind the plate to win the team’s first-ever title, said. “I have the photo in my home of me jumping into his arms after we won in 1969. I am heartbroken. No one was better behind the plate. He really controlled the game.”
In total, Grote appeared in 1,235 games with New York, which ranks fifth on the all-time franchise list, with a .256 average and 994 hits — 11th-most in team history.
“He was the best catcher I ever threw to,” Matlack said. “I don’t think I ever shook him off once. I had the pleasure of being his roommate on the road for a few years. It’s a sad day.”
