# Rod Kanehl

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Kanehl
> Source revision: 1266290693
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{{short description|American baseball player (1934-2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Rod Kanehl
|position=[Utilityman](/source/Utility_(baseball))
|image=Rod Kanehl 1962.png
|width=200
|caption=Kanehl as a rookie in 1962
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1934|4|1}}
|birth_place=[Wichita, Kansas](/source/Wichita%2C_Kansas), U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2004|12|14|1934|4|1}}
|death_place=[Palm Springs, California](/source/Palm_Springs%2C_California), U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 15
|debutyear=1962
|debutteam=New York Mets
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 4
|finalyear=1964
|finalteam=New York Mets
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[Batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball))
|stat1value=.241
|stat2label=[Home run](/source/Home_run)s
|stat2value=6
|stat3label=[Runs batted in](/source/Runs_batted_in)
|stat3value=47
|teams=
*[New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets) ({{by|1962}}–{{by|1964}})
}}
'''Roderick Edwin Kanehl''' (April 1, 1934 – December 14, 2004) was an American [second baseman](/source/second_baseman) and [outfielder](/source/outfielder) in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) who played his entire career with the [New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets) ([1962](/source/1962_in_baseball)–[1964](/source/1964_in_baseball)). Beloved by Mets fans, his attitude was exemplary for a team that lost a modern-era record 120 games in its inaugural season. Kanehl hit the first [grand slam](/source/grand_slam_(baseball)) in Mets history on July 6, 1962, at the [Polo Grounds](/source/Polo_Grounds).

thumb|left|upright|Kanehl in 1963
Before making the major leagues, Kanehl played for eight seasons in the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees)' and [Cincinnati Reds](/source/Cincinnati_Reds)' [minor league](/source/farm_system) systems. In 1962, at age 28, he was given an opportunity to try out for the Mets' opening season. Through [spring training](/source/spring_training), he worked tirelessly for a spot on the roster. He leaped over an outfield wall in pursuit of a ball and he scored from second on a [wild pitch](/source/wild_pitch). His attitude and all-out play earned him the nickname ′′Hot Rod′′.

Despite the objections and criticisms of the Mets' [general manager](/source/General_Manager_(baseball)) [George Weiss](/source/George_Weiss_(baseball)), [manager](/source/manager_(baseball)) [Casey Stengel](/source/Casey_Stengel) stuck with Kanehl. Stengel liked Kanehl's hustle and determination to play the game.

In a three-year career spanning 340 games, Kanehl [batted](/source/batting_average_(baseball)) .241 and accrued six [home run](/source/home_run)s, 47 [RBI](/source/Run_batted_in), 103 [runs](/source/Run_(baseball)), 23 [doubles](/source/Double_(baseball)) and 17 [stolen base](/source/stolen_base)s. A highly versatile utilityman, he played every position except [pitcher](/source/pitcher) and [catcher](/source/catcher).

Kanehl played his final major-league season when [Shea Stadium](/source/Shea_Stadium) opened its doors in 1964. After the 1964 season, the Mets did not invite Kanehl to spring training, but also prevented him from taking a minor league coaching job he had been offered by the Yankee organization.<ref>A Year in Mudville:  An Oral History of Casey Stengel and the Original Mets, by David Bagdade</ref> He worked in construction, sold insurance, and later owned a restaurant. When Stengel died in 1975, Kanehl was the only former Mets player who was present at the funeral.

After suffering a [heart attack](/source/myocardial_infarction), Kanehl died at a hospital in [Palm Springs, California](/source/Palm_Springs%2C_California) at age 70.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/31/sports/baseball/31kanehl.html Rod Kanehl, 70, an Original Met, Dies]</ref>

==Quote==
* ''Baseball is a lot like life. The line drives are caught, the squibbles go for base hits. It's an unfair game''.<ref>[http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/k/kanehl_rod.html Rod Kanehl]</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|br=k/kanehro01|brm=kanehl001rod}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanehl, Rod}}
Category:1934 births
Category:2004 deaths
Category:Amarillo Gold Sox players
Category:Baseball players from Wichita, Kansas
Category:Dallas Rangers players
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:Houston Buffs players
Category:McAlester Rockets players
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Monroe Sports players
Category:Nashville Vols players
Category:New York Mets players
Category:Peoria Chiefs players
Category:Richmond Virginians (minor league) players
Category:Winston-Salem Twins players

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rod Kanehl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Kanehl) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Kanehl?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.