Jerry Grote was a Major League Baseball catcher who won the 1969 World Series with the New York Mets.
- Died: April 7, 2024 (Who else died on April 7?)
- Details of death: Died in Austin, Texas of respiratory failure at the age of 81.
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Jerry Grote’s legacy
Grote was a star baseball player in high school in San Antonio, Texas, and he went on to play a single season of college ball at Trinity University in his hometown before going pro. He signed with the Houston Astros (then the Houston Colt .45s) as a free agent in 1962, initially playing for their minor league affiliate but debuting in the majors the following year. After just a few seasons with the Astros, Grote was traded to the Mets in 1965, and it was there that he had his greatest fame.
The 1969 Mets season was a legendary one, and they earned the nicknames “Miracle Mets” and “Amazin’ Mets” as they rallied from a mid-season slump to meet the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Grote was a major part of that victory, catching in every inning of the series, and when the Mets won in Game Five, he became one of the faces of the victory. Pitcher Jerry Koosman leapt into Grote’s arms upon the game’s final out, and cameras caught the teammates celebrating their win. The picture is one of Major League Baseball’s enduring images.
Grote went to another World Series with the Mets in 1973, though they were defeated by the Oakland A’s. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977, going to two World Series with them in his two seasons there. He retired in 1978, but he was lured back to the game by the Kansas City Royals, playing the 1981 season with them before retiring again.
Notable quote
“One of the advantages of playing for New York is that the big crowds at Shea Stadium help you tremendously. They make you want to give 115% all the time.” —from a 1971 interview for Sports Illustrated
Tributes to Jerry Grote
Full obituary: The New York Times
