Joe Christopher, an original New York Met who achieved an unusual feat of competence in that often-bumbling, last-place franchise’s third season when he batted .300 in 1964, died on Tuesday in Edgewood, Md. He was 88.
His daughter Kameahle Christopher confirmed the death, in an assisted living facility, and said the cause was complications of a stroke.
Christopher, a stocky, 5-foot-10 outfielder, had been with the Pittsburgh Pirates for three seasons when he was part of the draft that stocked the rosters of two National League expansion teams, the Mets and the Houston Colt 45s (now the Astros), in late 1961.