- Rod Kanehl
Roderick Edwin Kanehl (
April 1 1934 –December 14 2004 ) was an Americansecond baseman andoutfielder inMajor League Baseball who played his entire career with theNew York Mets (1962-1964). Beloved by Mets fans, his attitude was exemplary for a team that lost a modern-era record 120 games in its inaugural season. Kanehl hit the first grand slam in Mets history onJuly 6 , 1962 at thePolo Grounds .Before making the major leagues, Kanehl played for eight seasons in the
New York Yankees andCincinnati Reds ' minor league systems. In 1962, at age 28, he was given an opportunity to try out for the Mets' opening season. Throughspring training , he worked tirelessly for a spot on the roster. He lept over an outfield wall in pursuit of a ball and he scored from second on awild pitch . His attitude and all-out play earned him the nickname "Hot Rod."Despite the objections and criticisms of the Mets' general manager George Weiss, manager
Casey Stengel stuck with Kanehl. Stengel liked Kanehl's hustle and determination to play the game.In a three-year career spanning 340 games, Kanehl batted .241 and accrued six
home run s, 47 RBI, 103 runs, 23 doubles and 17stolen base s. A highly versatile utilityman, he played every position exceptpitcher andcatcher .Kanehl played his final major-league season when
Shea Stadium opened its doors in 1964. Then he returned to the minors and was upset over never gaining an opportunity to remain in baseball after retiring. He worked in construction, sold insurance, and later owned a restaurant. When Stengel died in 1975, Kanehl was the only former Mets player who was present at the funeral.After suffering a heart attack, Kanehl died at a hospital in
Palm Springs, California at age 70.Quote
* "Baseball is a lot like life. The line drives are caught, the squibbles go for base hits. It's an unfair game". [http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/k/kanehl_rod.html]
External links
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* [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/31/sports/baseball/31kanehl.html Obituary in the New York Times]
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