Jerry Grote, who was among the National League’s leading catchers of his time and guided the pitching staff that propelled the New York Mets to their astonishing 1969 World Series championship, died on Sunday in Austin, Texas. He was 81.
The Mets confirmed his death through social media and in a statement on the team’s blog. The statement did not specify a cause of death, but said that Grote had died at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute.
Information on his survivors was not immediately available.
Grote was known for his powerful arm targeting would-be base stealers and his savvy in calling pitches during his run with the Mets, which lasted more than 10 seasons.
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Yan Zhuang contributed reporting.
