Ron Hunt: It's time for us to go to bat for him.

April 17, 1964 was a Friday, the first day a baseball game was ever played at the brand-new home of the New York Mets: Shea Stadium.

It was in the 4th inning that Ron Hunt, playing in the second year of his major league career, doubled off Bob Friend for the very first extra-base hit by a Met in their new ballpark. The next batter, catcher Jesse Gonder, singled to right, and the powerful legs of 23-year-old Ronald Kenneth Hunt churned around third and slid into home plate. It was the first run ever scored by a New York Met at Shea.

 

Three games later those same legs would trot around the bases, after Hunt hit the first Met home run in the new park at Flushing Meadows.

 

Now, due to Parkinson’s Disease, the legs of Ron Hunt are giving out. The first Met to ever start in an All-Star game cannot move from one room to another without a walker; cannot turn around without the risk of falling; cannot take a stroll with his wife Jackie, or their dog, Bella.

 

There are costly new treatments that Ron has taken, and they have helped – but they are incredibly expensive, and not covered by any insurance.  The bottom line is that he desperately needs more and lacks the funds, and while he won’t ask for financial help (I think you know how tough he is), I will.  I’m a fan who discovered his first baseball hero at age 12, and he’s been an inspiration to me my whole life.  It's time to give back.

Let's help Ron Hunt walk again. He took a lot of hits for us – now let’s take a small one for him.

Donated funds may be withdrawn and managed only by Ron's daughter, Tracy Hunt Quinn, who is scheduling and overseeing his medical treatment.  Your donations will be deposited into a special account set up by the Hunt family for that specific purpose.