PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: A New York Mets batting helmet in the dugout before a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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The New York Mets have celebrated many memorable figures from the franchise’s early years, but few hold a place in club history quite like Ron Hunt.
Long before the organization became a perennial top spender under current owner Steve Cohen, Hunt helped establish the foundation of the young franchise while earning recognition as one of the National League’s top second basemen.
Now, more than six decades after making history in a Mets uniform, Hunt’s former team and longtime supporters are rallying around him following a heartbreaking health update.
Former New York Mets All-Star Rob Hunt Made Franchise History
Hunt’s accomplishments remain an important part of franchise history and one statistic in particular points to the kind of presence he was in the batter’s box.
“Hunt was hit by a pitch 243 times, which is still the sixth most in MLB history,” Dylan Svoboda reported for the New York Post. “In 2018, it was revealed that Hunt was dealing with Parkinson’s disease.”
Although generations of fans know the organization for later championship clubs and modern stars, Hunt’s contributions helped establish the franchise’s identity during its formative seasons.
Now, as Hunt remains in hospice care while battling multiple illnesses, the Mets community is doing what Horwitz requested — remembering one of the franchise’s first star players and offering prayers and support for both Hunt and his family during an incredibly difficult time.