Former Mets owner Nelson Doubleday dies at 81

Former New York Mets owner Nelson Doubleday has died, the team confirmed in a statement. He was 81.

Doubleday died on Wednesday of pneumonia, his son-in-law John Havens told The New York Times.

"We were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Nelson Doubleday Jr.," the Mets announced. "Nelson had a love of baseball and the Mets. On behalf of everyone at the organization, we send our condolences and sympathies to his family."

Renowned Met Keith Hernandez remembered Doubleday on SNY's Wednesday broadcast.

"His life is to be celebrated. He was a wonderful man. He had a wonderful life," Hernandez said.

Ex-pitcher Ron Darling, also a Mets broadcaster, said: "It's a big loss for Keith and I. A guy that we looked up to."

Doubleday, whose family built a publishing empire, purchased the Mets in 1980. He was bought out of his share by co-owner Fred Wilpon in 2002 in what became an acrimonious divorce. Doubleday claimed at the time that an arbitrator undervalued the team, reducing his payout.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.