When the Mets were formed in 1962, the club's front office obtained many National League veterans for the team's roster. Hopeful that the experienced players could produce a winning ballclub, the Mets' owners soon learned that this was not the solution. Instead Casey Stengel began combing through the newly formed farm-chain and invited the more promising youngsters to an advance rookie school this past spring. There, Casey and his fine staff of coaches worked patiently with the future major league stars. Among the most promising of his pupils was hard-hitting Ed Kranepool. The powerful 19 year old split the '63 season between New York and Buffalo. In the International League, Ed batted .310 as he cracked 63 hits in 53 innings. A natural-born athlete, Ed set highschool scoring records in basketball.