NEW YORK (AP) -Former Mets first baseman Ed Kranepool is suing a Long Island hospital for using his name, photo and medical information in a direct-mail fundraiser without his permission.
Kranepool played for the Amazin' Mets team that won the 1969 World Series. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Foundation in federal court in Brooklyn.
Following shoulder surgery at the medical center, Kranepool was featured in a health system spring 2007 newsletter.
"He managed my care beautifully," Kranepool was quoting as saying in the newsletter about the doctor who performed the surgery. "I couldn't have asked for better."
A few months later, the foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the health system, used information about Kranepool's surgery and his photo in a direct-mail appeal for donations sent to Queens and Long Island residents.
Bruce Baron, Kranepool's attorney, said his client never gave permission for his name, photo and medical information to be used to raise money. The suit seeks at least $2 million in damages.
"What this hospital did is beyond punitive," Baron said. "It not only disclosed my client's medical condition and treatment but it exploited it for its own personal gain without his permission and consent."
Hospital officials say Kranepool enthusiastically agreed to be featured in the newsletter, but acknowledged they didn't have his permission for the direct mailing.
"We apologized to him for that," spokesman Terry Lynam said.
Lynam didn't know how many people received the direct mailing.
At Kranepool's request, Lynam said, officials mailed a follow-up letter informing recipients of Kranepool's objection.
"We even offered to refund donations people made in response to the direct appeal," Lynam said, adding that $5,000 was raised. "We're sad that Ed Kranepool has filed suit against the hospital after receiving what he acknowledged to be excellent care that restored full use of his shoulder."
The 62-year-old Kranepool had shoulder surgery after he was injured while skiing several years before in upstate New York, according to the newsletter.
Kranepool was signed by the Mets in 1962, when they lost a record 120 games in their first year of existence. He was the only member of the '62 team who played on the World Series champions in 1969.
After 18 seasons with the Mets, he retired in 1979 with a .261 career batting average and 118 home runs.
