NomarFan5
12-30-2004, 12:21 AM
NEW YORK -- Rod Kanehl, a popular utility man for Casey Stengel's Mets, passed away on Dec. 14 at the age of 70 at his home in California. A memorial service will be held for Kanehl on Monday in Cathedral City, Calif. The family requests that contributions be made to your favorite charity.
"Baseball is a lot like life," Kanehl once said. "The line drives are caught and the squibbles go for base hits. It's an unfair game."
Kanehl may have viewed baseball as an unfair game at times, but for the Kansas native, baseball was more than fair for three wonderful years in the early 1960s.
"Hot Rod," as Kanehl was known, played in the Major Leagues for three seasons, all with the Mets, beginning in their expansion season of 1962. His 340-game career lasted until 1964, when he retired at the age of 30. Though four decades had passed since Kanehl put on a uniform, he remains etched in the hearts of Mets fans as a player who was "Super Joe" before there was a "Super Joe" McEwing.
Originally signed by the Yankees in 1964, Kanehl was traded to the Reds in 1960 before the Mets acquired him prior to the 1962 season. Kanehl quickly established himself as a favorite of New York's lovable skipper, earning the nickname of "Casey's Boy."
Kanehl played in 133 games that first season in New York, hitting a career-best .248 with four homers and 27 RBIs while seeing action at first base, second base, third base, shortstop and in the outfield. He continued to display his versatility in each of the next two seasons, playing 109 games in 1963 and 98 games in 1964 before calling it a career.
Kanehl also worked for the Ollis Insurance Co., was a building contractor, restaurateur, and was employed at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles and the Quarry Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif., before retiring.
"Baseball is a lot like life," Kanehl once said. "The line drives are caught and the squibbles go for base hits. It's an unfair game."
Kanehl may have viewed baseball as an unfair game at times, but for the Kansas native, baseball was more than fair for three wonderful years in the early 1960s.
"Hot Rod," as Kanehl was known, played in the Major Leagues for three seasons, all with the Mets, beginning in their expansion season of 1962. His 340-game career lasted until 1964, when he retired at the age of 30. Though four decades had passed since Kanehl put on a uniform, he remains etched in the hearts of Mets fans as a player who was "Super Joe" before there was a "Super Joe" McEwing.
Originally signed by the Yankees in 1964, Kanehl was traded to the Reds in 1960 before the Mets acquired him prior to the 1962 season. Kanehl quickly established himself as a favorite of New York's lovable skipper, earning the nickname of "Casey's Boy."
Kanehl played in 133 games that first season in New York, hitting a career-best .248 with four homers and 27 RBIs while seeing action at first base, second base, third base, shortstop and in the outfield. He continued to display his versatility in each of the next two seasons, playing 109 games in 1963 and 98 games in 1964 before calling it a career.
Kanehl also worked for the Ollis Insurance Co., was a building contractor, restaurateur, and was employed at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles and the Quarry Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif., before retiring.