Ron Hunt, the gritty second baseman whose unyielding style embodied the blue-collar ethos of baseball in the 1960s and 1970s, died this week at the age of 85. A St. Louis native who capped his 12-year major league career with his hometown Cardinals, Hunt was renowned for playing through pain and reaching base by any means necessary—most famously by leaning into pitches.
Born Ronald Kenneth Hunt on February 23, 1941, in St. Louis, Hunt grew up in the area and starred at Ritenour High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves organization out of high school and spent four years in the minors before the expansion New York Mets acquired him. Hunt made his big-league debut in 1963 and quickly established himself as a reliable infielder on some of the franchise’s early, struggling teams.
In 1964, Hunt delivered one of the defining moments of his early career, earning selection as the starting second baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game at Shea Stadium—the first Met ever to start in the Midsummer Classic. That season, he hit .303, showcasing the contact skills and plate discipline that would define much of his career. He earned a second All-Star nod with the Mets in 1966.
Over 12 seasons with the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Expos, and Cardinals, Hunt batted .273 with 39 home runs, 370 RBIs, and a solid .368 on-base percentage. But it was his willingness to take one for the team that cemented his legacy. Hunt was hit by a pitch a remarkable 243 times—sixth all-time in MLB history—including a modern-era single-season record of 50 in 1971 with the Montreal Expos. He led the National League in hit-by-pitches for seven straight seasons (1968-1974).
Hunt’s toughness extended far beyond the batter’s box. He was a difficult out, striking out just once every 13.7 at-bats over his career, and he brought intensity and hustle to every play. Former Mets executive Jay Horwitz captured it well in recent remarks: “No one played the game harder than Ron Hunt, our first All-Star. He would do anything to help win a game.”
In September 1974, the Expos placed the veteran on waivers. The Cardinals claimed him, giving Hunt the opportunity to close out his playing days in front of family and friends in St. Louis. He appeared in 12 games for the Redbirds, going 4-for-23 with a pair of walks and two more HBPs while contributing his veteran presence. One of his lasting impacts that month came indirectly: batting ahead of Lou Brock, Hunt’s patient approach helped set the table as Brock broke Maury Wills’ single-season stolen base record.
After retiring, Hunt remained connected to the game in various capacities, including coaching and community efforts in the Midwest. In later years, he battled Parkinson’s disease, with symptoms linked in part to the cumulative effects of the physical toll from his playing days.
For Cardinals fans and baseball enthusiasts across St. Louis, Hunt represented a hometown kid who made good through sheer determination. From the diamonds at Ritenour High to the final outs of his career at Busch Stadium, he played with the kind of heart and resilience that transcended statistics.
The baseball world mourns the loss of a true competitor. Ron Hunt is survived by his family, and his memory will endure in the stories of a player who never backed down from the inside pitch—or anything else the game threw his way.
New York Mets on X (formerly Twitter): “We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Ron Hunt.Hunt, a Met from 1963 through 1966, was the first player to start an All-Star game in franchise history. We send our condolences to his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/moYs9jC32b / X”
We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Ron Hunt.Hunt, a Met from 1963 through 1966, was the first player to start an All-Star game in franchise history. We send our condolences to his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/moYs9jC32b
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