Ron Hunt, First All-Star Game Starter for the Mets, Dies at 85
Ron Hunt, who made history as the New York Mets’ first All-Star Game starter, has passed away in St. Louis at the age of 85.
Hunt had been in hospice care for the past month, fighting through a series of illnesses. He played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, with four of those years dedicated to the Mets.
Recognized for his tough playing style, Hunt was the National League’s starting second baseman during the Midsummer Classic held at Shea Stadium in 1964, just his second year in the league.
Hunt’s tenure with the Mets lasted from 1963 to 1966, and he represented the team again as an All-Star in 1966 before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers that winter.
He was well known for his readiness to engage physically, having been hit by a pitch seven times in the National League and a total of 243 times during his career—the sixth most in MLB history. In fact, he still holds the record for the most hit-by-pitches in a single season post-1900, with 50 while playing for the Expos in 1971.
Ron Kenneth Hunt was born on February 23, 1941, in St. Louis. He was raised by his parents, Floyd and Bernice Hunt, and his grandfather, Walter Groenmeyer, who instilled in him a deep love for baseball.
After graduating from Ritenour High School, Hunt initially signed with the Milwaukee Braves and also played football. The Mets picked up his contract following his rookie season in 1962, and he later played for the Dodgers, Giants, Expos, and Cardinals.
Hunt made an immediate impact in the majors, stepping in as the starting second baseman for the Mets in 1963. In his rookie season, he notched 145 hits, 28 doubles, 10 home runs, and 42 RBIs—numbers he never surpassed again. This performance earned him a second-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, edged out by none other than Pete Rose.
In his long career, he amassed 1,429 hits, but what truly set him apart was his relentless approach to the game.
At just 22, Hunt led the Mets with 13 hit-by-pitches during his rookie year. As he once quipped, “Some people give their bodies to science. I gave my body to baseball.”
To prepare for being hit, he would even practice in front of a mirror, knowing it could likely happen. He often faced 3-and-1 counts, where pitchers might intentionally hit him to avoid giving up a foul ball.
While his fearless playing style endeared him to fans, it also resulted in 16 surgeries throughout his career and may have led to his later diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a condition that greatly affected him in his later years. His daughter, Tracy, once mentioned how difficult it was to see the toll his career took on him.
His fearlessness wasn’t just limited to the batter’s box; he showed the same tenacity while running the bases. For example, during a game against the Cardinals on May 11, 1965, Hunt sustained head and shoulder injuries after colliding with Phil Gagliano, sidelining him for nearly three months. Later, he faced another scare when he slid home against the Giants and was struck in the head from a relay throw. Despite these close calls, he managed to bounce back quickly.
Looking back, Hunt expressed no regrets about his playing style or its consequences, famously stating, “It’s crazy. I’m still married.”
Throughout his career, he played alongside numerous stars like Casey Stengel, Duke Snider, Willie Mays, and others. His time with the Mets, particularly, had a lasting impact.
In his home debut at Shea Stadium on April 19, 1963, Hunt struck a dramatic walk-off, two-run double, delivering the Mets their first win after a streak of eight losses.
His All-Star appearances in 1964 and 1966 preceded a trade to Los Angeles that left him feeling disappointed. “I thought I was going to be a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the rest of my life,” he recalled in 2018. “But they messed me up.”
Despite a strained ending with the organization, Hunt made various appearances at Citi Field over the years. He is survived by his wife, Jackie, and their children Tracy and Ron Jr.
