As you watch the Mets compete for an NL playoff berth in 2025, you may notice a unique design within their jerseys.
On the sleeves of New York’s uniforms this season is a black patch with a No. 7 on it, sitting just above the team logo.
The No. 7 patch is in honor of a franchise legend the Mets lost in 2024, Ed Kranepool, who spent his entire 18-year MLB career with the team.
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Here’s what to know about the Mets’ 2025 jersey patch and more on Kranepool.
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Mets No. 7 jersey patch, explained
Before their 2025 season began, the Mets announced in March that they would wear a tribute patch to Kranepool for the duration of the coming campaign.
Kranepool died on Sept. 8, 2024, at the age of 79. In his playing days, he wore No. 7 for the Mets, hence the jersey patch including the number. On Opening Day, Kranepool’s family members were honored pregame with the Mets wearing the new jersey patches, and Kranepool’s friend and former teammate Art Shamsky was in attendance.
“Of all the stats and records Ed accomplished throughout his career, the thing he was most proud of was that he spent his entire Major League career in a Mets uniform,” Art Shamsky said, per MLB.com. “Ed would be touched that the team will be wearing his number seven on their uniform all year long.”
Mets players wearing a number 7 patch on their sleeve to honor the late Ed Kranepool, who played in more games as a Met than any other player. pic.twitter.com/bUZGIIqH6e
— Shoebox_Stadium (@ShoeboxStadium) April 17, 2025
Who is Ed Kranepool?
Kranepool, who was born in 1944 and died in 2024, is a former MLB player that spent his entire playing career with the Mets. He mostly played first base but also appeared as an outfielder.
Born and raised in New York, Kranepool signed with the Mets at 17 years old as an amateur free agent in 1962. He quickly ascended through the team’s minor league system, reaching the majors in his first professional season. In his first few years, Kranepool spent some more time in Triple-A, but he would go on to become one of the greatest players in Mets history.
After originally starting out at No. 21, Kranepool switched to No. 7 in 1965; the switch eventually led to his first, and only, NL All-Star selection.
He was a member of New York’s 1969 “Miracle Mets” squad, which resulted in their first World Series title, and he hit a home run in Game 3 of the title series against the Orioles. Kranepool was a mainstay on the team’s roster for years to come, ultimately retiring in 1979 at age 34. At the time, he led the franchise leader in eight offensive categories.
In 2025, Kranepool still holds a Mets record with 1,853 games played, and he ranks third in team history with his 1,418 hits. In 2023, Kranepool released an autobiography titled “The Last Miracle: My 18-Year Journey with the Amazin’ New York Mets.”
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Is Ed Kranepool in the Hall of Fame?
Kranepool is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he was inducted into the Mets’ team Hall of Fame in 1990, and he often appeared at Mets games in the years before his death.
Happy 50th anniversary of the 1969 #Mets championship.
“It was bedlam,” Ed Kranepool said of the emotions during Game 5 of the ‘69 World Series. pic.twitter.com/mLRX1EKmZU
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) February 22, 2019
Ed Kranepool is in Jupiter to watch the Mets today. Pete Alonso went over to chat. pic.twitter.com/4Xl8GR5Sg9
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) March 2, 2024
Legendary Met, Ed Kranepool, is here tonight and will throw out the first pitch. pic.twitter.com/zCRdImbyzm
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) August 6, 2018
