Books and articles about Bud Harrelson

Harrelson grew up in California wanting to play for the Giants, who rejected him as too small. He signed with the Mets, and on September 16, 1966, stole home in the ninth to cost the Giants a key game in a pennant race they lost by one and a half games. That same week, he stole home to beat the Pirates, who finished two out. After a .108 debut in 1965, he learned to switch-hit.

RELATED LINKS » 1968: Teams Score One Run in 24 Innings » 1969: First Championship Celebration from The New York Mets Encyclopedia by Peter C. Bjarkman » 1973: O, Charlie O. » 1973: Rose vs. Harrelson Around the Web » Bud Harrelson from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Between recurring back problems and weekend duty in the National Guard Reserve, he missed considerable playing time, but when he was in the lineup, he sparked the Mets. His excellent fielding kept him in the lineup no matter what his average, but he also contributed with his speed on the basepaths and by drawing more than his share of walks. His best year was 1970, when he reached career highs in five offensive categories and tied the since-broken NL shortstop record of 54 consecutive errorless games (6/24-8/19). In 1971 he won a Gold Glove and led the Mets with 28 stolen bases. Harrelson is second on the Mets' all-time list in games and at-bats (to Ed Kranepool) and triples, and ranks high in hits, runs, and stolen bases. He became a minor league manager and ML coach for the Mets. Pete Rose is still booed in Shea Stadium for his hard collision with Harrelson while trying to break up a double play in the 1973 New York-Cincinnati LCS. Released after 1977, Harrelson turned to softball, but was picked up by the Phillies on their way to the division title. (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 12, 1966: Ron Perranoski of the Dodgers fans the first six batters he faces and earns a 3–2 win over the Mets and Tug McGraw. With the help of 2B Ron Hunt, Mets rookie SS Bud Harrelson picks off Lou Johnson with the hidden ball trick in the 6th. » July 8, 1967: At Shea, Tom Seaver pitches the Mets to a 3–2 win over the Braves. An odd play occurs when Bud Harrelson's looper over 3B is touched by a fan before Rico Carty can field it, and Harrelson is awarded a ground-rule single. » September 22, 1969: Tom Seaver, who has not lost since early August, tops the Cardinals' Nelson Briles for a 3–1 victory. In game 2, Buddy Harrelson singles off Bob Gibson in the 11th inning to give the Mets a 3–2 win. With the Cubs losing to Montreal 7–3, the Mets now lead the National League East by six games with six to play. » May 10, 1971: At New York, Bud Harrelson's 2-run single in the 7th beats Houston and Wade Blasingame, 2–1. It is Blasingame's first loss to the Mets after nine wins. » June 25, 1971: Cleon Jones ties an National League record by drawing six walks, helping the Mets to a doubleheader sweep of the Expos, 4–1 and 4–2. Jerry Grote has three doubles in the opener, and Bud Harrelson knocks in three runs in the nite cap. Nolan Ryan (7-4) and Danny Frisella (4–1) are winners. » October 8, 1973: Rusty Staub homers in the first and 2nd innings as the Mets crush the Reds 9–2, in a game featuring a bench-clearing brawl between Rose and Bud Harrelson. Rain postpones the American League game. » August 15, 1976: On Buddy Harrelson's wedding day, he scores the only run as the Mets nip the Reds 1–0. He gets married a few hours after the game. » May 29, 1990: With the team struggling (20-22), the Mets fire manager Davey Johnson, whose 6-year winning percentage was .593. Coach Buddy Harrelson replaces him and the Mets will win 20 of their next 23 games before cooling down. » September 28, 1991: Following a 6–2 Mets loss to Phillies rookie Cliff Brantley, manager Bud Harrelson is fired by the Mets.