Jerry Grote, the longtime New York Mets catcher and part of their 1969 World Series championship team, died Sunday because of respiratory failure after a heart procedure in Austin, Texas, his family announced. He was 81.
Grote, known especially for his defense, played 16 seasons, 12 for the Mets, before serving as the backup catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977-78. In 1981, his final year in the majors, he played in 22 games for the Kansas City Royals and two for the Dodgers.
Via espn.com