Kranepool's All-Star selection in 1965 was quite a fluke. His OPS of .675 was the lowest of any NL regular first baseman. The rule in those days was that the manager, who selected the All-Star team, had to pick at least one player from every team. He did lead the Mets in batting average, with a .253 mark. Kranepool also was a big improvement over the Mets' previous first baseman, "Marvelous" Marv Throneberry.
Kranepool's All-Star selection in 1965 was quite a fluke. His OPS of .675 was the lowest of any NL regular first baseman. The rule in those days was that the manager, who selected the All-Star team, had to pick at least one player from every team. He did lead the Mets in batting average, with a .253 mark. Kranepool also was a big improvement over the Mets' previous first baseman, "Marvelous" Marv Throneberry.
I was in Newark NJ 1972-4 and saw a lot of those Mets play often. I was a big fan.