Ron Hunt, who made history as the first New York Mets player ever chosen to start an All-Star Game, has passed away at 85 years old.
A 2019 report from the New York Post indicated that Hunt had received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Longtime Mets public relations director Jay Horwitz noted that Hunt had also been dealing with a number of other health issues in recent times.
Former Mets pitcher Jack Fisher spoke warmly of Hunt to Horwitz, emphasizing how fully Hunt committed himself to the team’s success and describing him as a fierce competitor in every sense.
Hunt spent his opening four major-league seasons with the Mets, out of a 12-year career overall. He was primarily a second baseman, and he earned National League All-Star nods in both 1964 and 1966 while playing that position.
Over the remainder of his career, Hunt suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1967, the San Francisco Giants from 1968 through 1970, the Montreal Expos between 1971 and 1974, and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.
Though he was never known as a power hitter, Hunt did hit 10 of his 39 total home runs during his 1963 rookie campaign. What he is most remembered for, however, is his remarkable knack for getting plunked by pitches. He topped the league in hit-by-pitches on seven different occasions, with a staggering 50 in the 1971 season alone. His career total of 243 HBPs places him sixth in baseball history.
Hunt once remarked that while some people donate their bodies to science, he chose to offer his to baseball instead.
Across 1,483 games in the majors, Hunt compiled a lifetime batting line of .273/.368/.347.
A St. Louis native, Hunt originally signed with the Milwaukee Braves straight out of high school and spent four years in their minor-league system, reaching Double-A, before being signed by a Mets scout to join the expansion franchise.
He was brought straight up to the majors and, over the next several years, became one of the few standout performers on a Mets team that regularly struggled.
According to author Bill Sullivan, after his playing days ended, Hunt returned to his farm in Wentzville, Missouri, opened both a liquor store and a sporting goods shop, and continued some farming work. In 1987, he established the Ron Hunt Eagles Baseball Association to serve young players in his local community.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie, along with their daughter, Tracy, and son, Ron Jr.
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