May 8, 1963 - A year ago, Ed Kranepool (right) was slamming long home runs at a record clip for James Monroe High School in the Bronx. Today at the Polo Grounds, the 18-year-old blooped a lazy shot just over the infield for a double many will remember. The hit drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets a 3-2 decision over the Philadelphia Phillies. So Kranepool, an $85,000 bonus investment by the Mets, became the latest of the heroes for the new breed. Along with Jay Hook and Tim Harkness, Kranepool shared the honors before 9,395 fans. This trio contributed the major share as the high-flying Mets reached a record peak of .423 with their third victory in a row. Never before had the year-old team gone over the .400 mark in the percentage column. Hook pitched his best game of the season and got his first victory. And Harkness got into the hero act early by cracking a two-run homer in the fourth. The Phils operated from the third inning on without their manager, Gene Mauch, in the dugout. Tony Venzon, the plate umpire, tossed Mauch for apparently shouting too many complaints. As the game progressed, it became obvious Mauch was continuing to manage the club from the dressing room in deep center field. Mauch sat at a window, and his coaches and players took long looks toward the window in times of stress.
