" For a pip squeak Bud had a good left hook !!"
So here we are, basically one third of the way through this extensive list of Mets royalty as voted by you the fans, and painstakingly researched by yours truly. We have seen fan favorites such as Millan, Swan, Maz and Swoboda take their rightful place on this list along side some of the more accomplished players such as Hundley , Floyd, Agee and Ojeda. All these players brought their blood, sweat and tears to the ballpark everyday. But number thirty on this list might have been the hardest working player this team has ever known. That player is none other than Bud Harrelson.
Derrel McKinley “Bud” Harrelson was born in Niles California on June 6, 1944. Bud was the captain of the Mets infield from his inception with the Mets in 1965 until he was traded to the Phillies in 1978. Bud was the prototypical shortstop of his era. He was all glove and very little bat. In his thirteen year Mets career he owned a .234 batting average with six homers and 242 RBIs. but on the flip side he had a had a lifetime fielding percentage with the Mets of .970 . Bud would win one Gold Glove with the Mets in the ’71 season, and he was voted to the National League All Star squad in 1970.
One of Bud’s funniest and finest moments occurred during the ’73 NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds, when he was involved in an altercation with Pete Rose which quickly escalated into a benches clearing brawl.
It happened in the fifth inning of game three .Reds second baseman, Joe Morgan hit a ball that would have been a double play ball to Mets first baseman John Milner.Pete Rose slid hard into second base, attempting to break up the double play . Bud Felt he went in to take him out over remarks that Bud said prior to the game in which he joked that John Matlack made the Cincinnati Reds hitter look like him – a reference to Bud’s inability to hit for a high average. Words were exchanged then fists flew, and both benches cleared. After the the brawl was contained and the game was slated to continue, Reds manager Sparky Anderson pulled his team off the field, and nearly had the game called because the Mets faithful in Shea Stadium were throwing everything and anything at Rose while he took his position in the outfield.The game finally resumed after National League President, Chub Feeney sent Mets Manager Yogi Berra along with players Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, and Rusty Staub to quell the fans.The Mets would end up advancing to the World Series against the Oakland A’s where they lost in seven games.
In the ’75 season , Bud missed most of the season due to a knee injury that required surgery.He would only play in thirty four games that season.
Prior to the ’78 season, the Mets traded Bud to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league second baseman, Fred Andrews. Mets fans were livid. They blamed the Mets President M. Donald Grant for exiling superstars, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw and importing so-so talent. Andrews never even smelled the major leagues.
Bud would re-sign with the Phillies as a free agent just before the start of the 1979 season. After two seasons with the Phillies, Harrelson spent one season with the Texas Rangers before retiring.
After his retirement, Harrelson managed in the Mets farm system. In 1985 he would become the Mets third base coach after then coach , Bobby Valentine accepted the managerial job with the Texas Rangers. Harrelson was a coach with the Mets during their 1986 World Series championship season. In the ’90 season, Bud would replace Davey Johnson as Mets manager aftwer the Mets went 20-22 going into the first 42 games that season. The team would rebound, finishing at 91-71 . Bud was retained for the ’91 season ,and the Mets played well for much of the season, but the team would collapse in the second half and Harrelson was canned with a week remaining in the season. He was replaced the despised ( at least by me !!)third base coach, Mike Cubbage.
Bud is the co owner as well as the Vice President for Baseball Operations for the Long Island Ducks, an unaffiliated minor league baseball team for which he also serves as their first base coach. He was on hand at the ” Shea Goodbye” ceremony to help close down the Mets home for Forty Four years, Shea Stadium. Bud is still frequent visitor at Mets games.
Bud might not have been the best offensive shortstop the Mets have ever had, but he was the first dominat defensive one !!
Tomorrow we will lift the curtains on number 29 of the top 50 Mets of all time , Heres a hint , he was one of the biggest steals in Frank Cashen’s career !!!
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today include :
Mets reserve outfielder from ’74-’76, Benny Ayala is 60 (1951) .
Mets starting pitcher from ’81-’82, Charlie Puleo is 56 (1955) .
One of the best reserve outfielders the Mets have ever had, Endy Chavez is 33 (1978). That catch that he made in the ’06 NLCS will forever be a iconic image in Mets history.
The New York Mets traded pitchers, Hank Webb and Richard Sander to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league shortstop, Rich Auerbach on February 7, 1977.
Pitcher,Mickey Lolich announced his retirement on February 7, 1977. We traded Rusty Staub for this over the hill pitcher only for him to have a lousy season. He would add insult to injury when he would make a comeback with the Sand Diego Padres in ’78.
The New York Mets released utilityman, Ross Jones on February 7, 1986.
The New York Mets claimed utility infielder, David Lamb on waivers from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on February 7, 2000.
And while you get over last nights hangover, just remember that there are just 53 Bobby Valentine ( when he was a coach) days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami, and just 60 moredays until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn had to retire his terrible towel” after he woke up this moring and saw that he used it as a diaper !!!
31 comments
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-7:41am at 7:41 am (UTC -4)
As a new young Met fan in ’68, Buddy Harrelson quickly became my favorite player on that team during that era. Not sure why because as you say, his bat was mostly non existent. Along with the fact that my father was a SS back then on a baseball league he played in, I think it was because Buddy was a scrappy player who despite his size and bat, seemed to me to be a hard playing, leader type player on that team. He certainly didn’t back down from much as evidenced by the brawl with Rose. I still remember that thinking, ‘uh, oh…Buddy is really going to get hurt here’. Didn’t seem to faze him at the time.
He certainly deserves to be on this list as given the fact that he’s this high means I’m not the only one who remembers his dedication to the game.
ajgmets
2/7/2011-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
1 of the most emblematic illustrations of Harrelson’s impact on the Mets in the miracle that was 1969, was his dash from 1st base to score on JC Martin’s pinch hit against the Braves in Game 1 of LCS vs Braves.. While Jose Reyes builds what we hope will become a legacy of greatness, Buddy Harrelson continues to be the Greatest Mets shortstop of all time.. Hurts me to say this but, Nice job again Ed.. Ha..http://bit.ly/dMfUL2
rustyjr
2/7/2011-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
You love me – admit it
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
Nice caricature of Buddy.
stickguy
2/7/2011-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
I honestly had no memory of Harrelson being traded to the Phillies and playing with them for 2 years. Not sure why, since in 1978 I didn’t even drink beer yet!
Prismo
2/7/2011-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
A couple links regarding the “situation” to check out:
James K at AA gives a timeline of the “situation” including an amusing graphic. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/2/7/1976337/fred-wilpon-bernie-madoff-and-the-mets-a-timeline
Prismo
2/7/2011-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
Howard Megdal writes a piece for MLBTR summing everything up – makes it easy to understand what’s going on and what some possible outcomes are. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/02/the-madoffwilpon-mess-a-simple-guide.html
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
I read both these articles this morning.
After reading those and many others in the past few days, I’m convinced everyone is an armchair authority on this.
That aside, I’m leaning towards the Wilpons will wind up having no choice but to sell…
and…
I can’t help but think this is going to have a negative impact on the field for the next couple of years. There’s the cloud that exists while the Wilpons make a decision to either fight it or not. If they fight it, it drags out longer. Either way, unless they’re 100% vindicated (only have to pay back the profit), they’re still on the hook for the monies it will take to fight it AND still have to somehow figure out how to get the Mets back in the read.
No good is going to come from any of this, IMO. At least not in the short term.
stickguy
2/7/2011-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
the armchair angle is why I am not bothering to waste time reading any more articles on the subject, unless something concrete (and important) happens. Until then, it is just rehasing the same stuff, and total “what if” speculation.
hopefully th eguys on the field finally have a put up (vs. a shut up) year to take the attention away from the financial side of the house!
TRS86
2/7/2011-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Right, they have not been competitive the last 2 years with 145M payroll so why does it have to be that they can’t be successful with a 120M payroll spent on the right people? If the Wilpons have to cut payroll so significantly that they have to drop below 100M then they would have to sell anyway because that 30M is a drop in the bucket to what they owe.
Prismo
2/7/2011-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
Your logic is backwards. O_o
If they can’t win with 145, then they definitely can win with 120? Does not compute.
The simple fact is that higher payrolls equal better records. Yes, there are several exceptions…but there should be no question that spending 145 wisely yields a better team than spending 120 wisely.
TRS86
2/7/2011-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
Right, however our current 145 was spent very unwisely. Also spending back up to 145M would either have to be spent foolishly OR at the cost of playing time and development for players that may be deserving. Example do you need more than 1 established pitcher for 2012 in addition to Johan, Pelfrey, Dickey, Niese, and whomever steps up this year?
Do you need to go out and spend big money on an OF to make Pagan a 4th OF?
Do you need to go out and spend big money on a setup man when Parnell may be that guy?
Do you need to go out and spend big money on a 1B?
Again, my point is that if they spend that 30M (half of the 60 coming off) wisely and allow development of what they have then the team would be much better than last year’s.
Prismo
2/7/2011-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
You’re right. In fact, a $105M payroll would yield an even better team! Heck, let’s knock it down to $90M! I’m really excited for the 2012 New York Mariners…err…Mets.
stickguy
2/7/2011-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
what, this is that new fangled sarcasm stuff I have heard about, right? Dang, I better buy me one of them meters some people have!
seriously though, in theory more money = better. but, only if it is spent on the right players. and of course, the foundation is solid.
and I think Real’s point is that if you have a good young (aka cheap) player, replacing him with a more expensive player does not necessarily make the team better.
and if the team is full of holes, spending big $$ on 1 name guy isn’t going to make it a winner.
now, if they get the foundation fixed and are really missing 1 key component, and that guy is available by writing the check, then there I would say 100% the difference in payroll will hurt the chances of success on the field!
the trick, of course, is getting to that point (and identifying the missing link).
Prismo
2/7/2011-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Sarcasm is how we youngin’s communicate, because we’re afraid to open up and share our true feelings for fear of rejection.
stickguy
2/7/2011-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Damned punk kids. Stay the hell off my lawn!
TRS86
2/7/2011-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
“why does it have to be that they can’t be successful with a 120M payroll spent on the right people?”
Should I have added instead of a 145M much of which spent on the wrong people.
TRS86
2/7/2011-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
See to me I still don’t see it as a major impact on the talent on the field. If the Wilpons know they may be forced to sell they will not damage the product. Also if they have to come up with 300M-1Billion how much is taking payroll from 125M to 90M really going to help? If anything it would hurt their ability to come up with the 300M-1B. Thus yeah payroll will go down next year, I hope it does and it should go down. Yet you can still afford a lot of pieces AND re-sign Reyes while still taking payroll down to 115-120M.
stickguy
2/7/2011-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
what they do could be influenced by where they end up in terms of keeping the team. If they are just trying to keep it afloat to avoid selling at any cost they may make different decisions than if they realize they need to sell and want to maximize what they get for it.
besides, if they need to generate 30mill, there are 2 ways to do it: 1 is cut payroll (assuming attendence stays the same). the other is to sell X more tickets (500,000? I have not idea what the average inclme/ticket is factoring in all revenue from an ass in a seat).
so keeping payroll flat (or say at 125-130, meaning the pocket the dead wood of ollie and slappy, and reinvest Reyes and Beltran (hopefuelly in Reyes!)), and if the younger talent blending in (+ the core guys) steps up and they win more, attendence will bounce back up.
cutting payroll to 90 (trading Diceky, Pelf, Wright, Pagan say) and going full blown AAA/rebuild mode ain’t getting you that attendence bump, and makes the team less valuable to someone coming in to buy it, so a lose lose.
I think the fan base is frustrated at this point (and the madoff nonsense ain’t helping), but they are also dying for a team that they can get behind (some good young players, a hustling, gritty, cluthc, hard working bunch, etc.).
If they get that group (without the guys they hate that symbolize the bad times, and you know how that is) , and they have a good start with Thole, Ike, neise, etc., then the fans will come back.
My opinion, over the last couple years, is that while negative feelings got heaped on the owners and GM, the problem was that many people just didn’t like many of the players on the team (and of course, the “face” of them, Jerry).
this team could go far simply from addition by subtraction.
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
On another note, if they pay my way I’ll volunteer to go down to PSL and be their official bowling scorekeeper.
Sunday night bowling will be serious.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yorkmets/post/_/id/14002/sunday-night-bowling-will-be-serious
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
‘If everyone just goes out there and does what’s on the back of their baseball cards, then I think we’re going to go out and surprise some people this year’.
David Wright.
stickguy
2/7/2011-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
Nice to see that Wright at least agrees with me.
I think many people are snoozing on exactly how much talent there is on this roster. Some of it has been in hiding recently, but if they play to potential, it will be a very good team.
hazmet
2/7/2011-6:23pm at 6:23 pm (UTC -4)
Just for the record, I agree with you too. When healthy, with the right Manager staying out of the way, this team has talent that should have them in the WC hunt.
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-6:31pm at 6:31 pm (UTC -4)
I laughed right out loud at ‘with the right Manager staying out of the way’…..
Agree with both of you. I think we as Met fans have just come to expect the worst since 2007 and just when we think it couldn’t get any worse, it actually did. We’re all shell shocked.
Think stick said it yesterday…what we’re looking for as a minor miracle this year (they play to their potential) most teams fans expect.
stickguy
2/7/2011-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
Very interesting read. Of course, it will upset the “saber is the devil” crowd (being WAR based and all), but it does certainly support the blame Omar theory (failing to put together an adequate supporting cast).
and while I know that playoff success is the ultimate judge, I still find it interesting that the phils form 2008-2010 (a time considered to be dominant, and Mets fans probably pine for), they still only won 7 more regular season games than the 2006-2008 Mets (a period that many met fans consider the darkest of all dark days).
stickguy
2/7/2011-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
I suppose adding the link would be helpful?
http://notjustametsblog.tumblr.com/post/3164352634/the-mets-terrible-supporting-cast
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-6:36pm at 6:36 pm (UTC -4)
Didn’t someone here do a similar analysis recently (last 4 months or so), or link to someone else who did the same?
I find this analysis very plausible. With the ‘core’ the did have, there has to be some basis in fact for why they went nowhere – other than luck. From god-awful BPs, to ineffective managers, to non existent depth and everything in between.
I read too many more of these type articles I might find myself getting my hopes up this year
hazmet
2/7/2011-6:24pm at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
Can I change my vote for #29 to Sticks Dog
hazmet
2/7/2011-6:26pm at 6:26 pm (UTC -4)
Great comment from Carlin, ” yah can’t screw up the national anthem at the super bowl, heck, I’m sure Rick Aguilera could have done a better job”
metsfan4decades
2/7/2011-6:41pm at 6:41 pm (UTC -4)
http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2011/02/what_do_the_machines_think_of.html
What??
‘Over on the Queens side of things, the outlook is basically, “eh [shrugs shoulders],” with PECOTA seeing another good year from Johan Santana (fourteen wins, 3.09 ERA), so-so seasons from John Maine and Mike Pelfrey, and fine-but-not-spectacular .800-or-so-OPS efforts from lineup stalwarts David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Jason Bay’.
*************************
I looked at the date of this article 3 times to make sure it wasn’t from last year. Someone ought to tell PECOTA that seeing how Johan will be on the DL, I’ll jump for joy if he gets 14 wins this year and uh….Maine isn’t even on the team.
stickguy
2/7/2011-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
and with that, the more implausible part is that DW’s OPS will be .800 or so!
Beltran, Bay and Reyes all normally way exceed that too, by a lot.