Ron Hunt dies at 85

Ron Hunt, the combative second baseman who became the first Met to start in an All-Star Game, was runner-up to Pete Rose for the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year Award and who as an Expo set the astonishing Modern Era record of 50 hit-by-pitches in a single season, has died. He was 85.

Hunt spent the first four seasons of his 12-year career with the Mets, beginning in 1963. He played one season with…