The man who struck the final blow of a stadium's history
In short: Ed Kirkpatrick wasn't just a steady presence on the diamond; he was the literal final note in a chapter of American sports history. On a crisp October night in 1972, he etched his name into the record books by recording the very last hit ever played at a legendary venue.
Ed Kirkpatrick enjoyed a durable 16-season career in Major League Baseball, spanning from 1962 to 1977. Having suited up as a catcher and outfielder, he represented five distinct clubs: the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, and Los Angeles Angels. While his batting average sat at .238, his value was often found in his consistency and ability to move runners, accumulating 456 walks and 34 stolen bases over 1,311 games.
One of his most enduring legacies occurred on October 4, 1972. Kirkpatrick recorded a single in the 8th inning of the final game ever played at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. This moment serves as a poignant historical marker, capturing the transition of a sporting era. During his tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he also contributed to the team's success by helping them secure the National League Eastern Division titles in both 1974 and 1975.
Kirkpatrick's life took a tragic turn in 1981 following a seemingly minor car accident in La Habra, California. While sleeping, a clot migrated from a bruised neck spot to his brain, causing a surgical heart attack that resulted in lasting paralysis. He survived in a coma for 5.5 months before eventually passing away in 2010 at the age of 66 after a long battle with throat cancer. Today, his hometown of Glendora honors his legacy by awarding a local citizen for youth service in his name.
His career statistics reflect a 'grinder's' profile: 824 hits, 85 home runs, and 424 RBIs. While he may not have been a superstar in the modern sense of power hitting, his ability to navigate the complexities of the game—evidenced by his 70 intentional walks and 25 sacrifice hits—made him a reliable fixture of the 1960s and 70s baseball landscape.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ed Kirkpatrick
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