Jerry Grote, catcher for 1969 New York Mets, dies at 81 | KLRT [Video]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jerry Grote, the catcher who helped transform the New York Mets from a perennial loser into the 1969 World Series champion, died Sunday. He was 81.

Grote had suffered from heart issues and died in Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said. Grote had been scheduled for a procedure and died of respiratory failure during the procedure, Horwitz said.

At two-time All-Star, Grote played 16 major league seasons and batted .252 with 39 homers and 404 RBIs.

“Backbone of a young Mets team who captured the heart of New York City,” Mets owner Steve Cohen and wife Alix said in a statement.

Grote had played two seasons with the Houston Colt .45s when the Mets acquired him in October 1965 for a player to be named, who turned out to be pitcher Tom Parsons.

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