The Last Miracle: My 18-Year Journey with the Amazin' New York Mets

by Ed Kranepool, Gary Kaschak

No origin story of the New York Mets is complete without Ed Kranepool.

The lefty first baseman known as "Steady Eddie" made his major-league debut at age 17 during the team's inaugural season and would eventually depart, nearly two decades later, with his name written throughout the franchise's record books.

In this definitive autobiography, Kranepool shares a remarkable life story, including early years playing stickball in the streets of the Bronx, the growing pains the Mets endured as an expansion club, his offseasons working as a New York stockbroker, and of course the miracle 1969 season that ended in an unforgettable World Series victory.

He also opens up about the personal miracle which came 50 years after that famous a lifesaving kidney transplant made possible by a Mets fan donor. A month after the surgery, Kranepool threw out the first pitch at Citi Field and boldly offered his services as a pinch hitter. 

Affable, open, and brimming with knowledge of the game, this thoroughly New York tale will delight baseball fans in Queens and beyond.

Genres: Sports, Baseball

256 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Edward Emil Kranepool III was an American professional baseball player. He spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets. He was predominantly a first baseman, but he also played in the outfield.

Reviews

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

There have been more than a few books written by or about the members of the 1969 Mets- the so called “Miracle” year where the worst team in baseball turned it around.

Ed Kranepool was a member of that team, but more than that, he was a member of the Mets for 18 seasons.

So, yes there’s 1969 content and 1973 content- another year where the Mets had a near miraculous season. But Kranepool had an interesting career -all with the New York Mets so he covers the stuff everyone talks about but the rough years too.

Kranepool joined the brand new Mets who were the historically worst team ever in baseball in 1962, played through the rise of the team being competitive and then the late 70s after the deaths of Manager Gil Hodges and owner Joan Payson to the days of bad mismanagement and terrible ownership decisions

Kranepool’s career similarly has moments of being a youthful phenom, an All Star and then playing mostly as a backup for a list of star players who came through the organization

So this book is specifically for Mets fans, but the truth is that it’s a great baseball book because of the highs and lows, and Kranepool is a great story teller.

The book does tell about all of his aspects of his life including his recent medical issues, but it’s a nice mix of always being readable and not overstaying its welcome.

Kranepool mentions a few people he didn’t get along with, so he’s probably not always right about everything but he is a great narrator and the book is a must read for Mets fans.

[Bob Engeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a lifelong Mets fan from probably 1968, I have lived and died with the Mets for more than 50 years. My favorite Met has always been Cleon Jones, followed close behind by Tommie Agee, and despite Ed Kranepool’s 18 years with the Mets, I always thought of him as ‘Steady Eddie” and a terrific pinch hitter, but he was never one of my favorites. But after reading The Last Miracle, I have an entire new respect for Ed and perhaps he deserved more of my attention.
The book is well written and not only very informative but also very enjoyable. It brings back many memories from the 60’s and 70’s, both highlights and low points but many of my favorite sections focused on behind the scenes moments that I was previously unaware of, and Ed’s bluntness in sharing his opinions of major ‘players’ – both on the field and off the field.
Without giving anything away, you will learn about Ed’s first game with the Mets with Koufax pitching, his giving up #21 for #7, the 5/31/64 longest DH, his tenuous signing/roster bonus, his Astrodome A/C theory, “Yo la tengo”, his fight with Cards 1B coach Bragan, and his involvement with Mays’ number retirement decision by Mets.
But the best aspects were Ed’s shared opinions on Yogi Berra, Gil Hodges, GM Joe MacDonald, Gene Mauch, Joe Foy, Tim Foli, Whitey Herzog, and Joe Torre as well his ’69 teammates, Seaver, Jones, Swoboda, Harrelson, Koosman, Grote and many others. Ed's bluntness about his dealings with Hodges, good and bad, and later his continuing issues with Berra were fascinating. And I’ll never forget the “Jeff Leonard game” or learning of Ed’s trade of a bull for airplane tickets, LOL.
Overall, a must read for any older Mets fan and certainly a terrific birthday or holiday gift!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars