Passed away at age 81. One of the Mets greats. Great defensive catcher.
OT: RIP Jerry Grote
- Thread starter MadRU
- Start date
His passing is the 12th from the 1969 team.
That is out of 35 players.
The 1962 team has only 10 players remaining out of 45,largely due to the ages of that expansion team.The '69 team had much younger ones.
That is out of 35 players.
The 1962 team has only 10 players remaining out of 45,largely due to the ages of that expansion team.The '69 team had much younger ones.
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While I never knowingly heard a firehouse song (would have turned it off if I had), Jerry Grote was an important part of this Mets fan’s baseball upbringing.
He deserves this thread.
He deserves this thread.
He does.
But to be honest, I thought he passed. Must have had him confused with another old Met.
Could be.
I do remember reading about his failing health. It’s possible I just assumed it already happened.
Nice tribute during the game tonight.
Mine too. Went to many games at Shea watching childhood heroes Tom Seaver, Agee, Grote, etc.
Best receiver in the National League during his era
Lou Brock considered Jerry Grote the toughest catcher he ever tried to steal off of, and Johnny Bench himself once remarked that if he’d been on the same team as Grote, he (Bench) would have been relegated to third base with Grote being the regular catcher.
I was only four years old in the summer of '69 and don't remember much about the Mets, Man on the Moon, etc.
I remember the 1973 WS very well. He was the battery mate of many a fine pitcher from those days. And I feel like taken into context of when he played, his offense for a catcher was more than adequate.
I remember the 1973 WS very well. He was the battery mate of many a fine pitcher from those days. And I feel like taken into context of when he played, his offense for a catcher was more than adequate.
I grew up with Jerry, I was the bat boy for numerous games in spring training and in the clubhouse all summer long in the late 60s.
When I was called up in 1977 at 20 years old he was behind the plate in Dodger Stadium for my first big league hit off of Tommy John.
What a thrill it was to play against those Met players I idolized growing up,.
When I was called up in 1977 at 20 years old he was behind the plate in Dodger Stadium for my first big league hit off of Tommy John.
What a thrill it was to play against those Met players I idolized growing up,.
Do you still have the ball from your first hit? If yes, is it in your house or the YB museum?
Apologies for being compulsive, but could you please edit the title to "Jerry" Grote? Thanks!