The Mets' first World Series was in 1969 when they beat the Orioles as the Miracle Mets with first baseman Ed Kranepool there for it all. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.

Ed Kranepool played for the Mets for 18 seasons, but there was no season like 1969 when the miracle Mets won their first World Series. 

"There will never be another '69. It was a tremendous year for everybody in New York and it captured the world and everyone followed us and they're still talking about it 50 years after the fact," Kranepool recalled.

Kranepool homered in Game 3 of the '69 series when the Mets shocked the world. He joined the team in its first season in 1962, a 17-year-old kid out of the Bronx. He wound up staying nearly two decades, pretty much unheard of in the days of free agency.

"My loyalty was was for the Mets. I've always watched them, always followed them, and that's all I have in my blood is the Mets," Kranepool said.

Though he confesses he was a Yankees fan as a kid, idolizing Mickey Mantle, who he would eventually come to know. He still wears his 1969 World Series ring and sees similarities between that team and the current Amazins squad - in particular - the young pitching staff.

"We had Seaver, Koosman, Gentry and Nolan Ryan in the bullpen. And he came in as a fourth pitcher. The Mets have the same thing they have four outstanding pitchers, the last guy being added to the mix is Matz, a local Long Island boy who throws 95 miles an hour and knows how to pitch," Kranepool noted.

Kranepool says there's no better town in the world to win a sports title in than right here in New York. But nobody remembers who came in second.

"They remember the winners they talk about '69. [In] '73 we had a good ballclub we went seven games with Oakland but nobody wants to talk about a loser. So I just hope that this club has good luck the next four more victories. We have a championship here in New York we have something to celebrate," Kranepool said.

Kranepool doesn't think playing the Royals will be a cakewalk for the Mets, but hopes the team he was part of for so many years can wrap things up in six games.