The Mets announced the passing of longtime infielder Bud Harrelson last night at age 79. He had battled Alzheimer’s for an extended period, according to the team.
“We were saddened to learn of Mets Hall of Famer Buddy Harrelson’s passing. He was a skilled defender and spark plug on the 1969 Miracle Mets,” owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “The Gold Glove shortstop played 13 years in Queens, appearing in more games at short than anyone else in team history. Buddy was the third base coach on the 1986 World Champs, becoming the only person to be in uniform on both World Series winning teams. We extend our deepest condolences to his entire family.”
Harrelson was a Bay Area native who played in college at San Francisco State. He signed with the Mets as a 19-year-old. The switch-hitting infielder got to the majors two years later, debuting with 19 games in 1965. Harrelson spent most of the 1966 campaign in Triple-A before emerging as a regular on the ’67 club.
He was an excellent defensive presence at shortstop for the next decade. Harrelson was the starter for the ’69 team that surprisingly secured the first World Series in franchise history. He made a pair of All-Star Games in 1970 and ’71, securing down-ballot MVP support in both years. Harrelson won the National League’s Gold Glove at shortstop in 1971. He finished among the top five NL shortstops in fielding percentage each year from 1969-72 and twice ranked among the top five at the position in assists.
Harrelson helped the Mets back to the Fall Classic in 1973, an eventual defeat at the hands of the A’s. While he had a solid showing in the World Series, he’s perhaps better known for his role in a bench-clearing brawl with the Reds in that’s year NLCS. After the Mets shut out Cincinnati in Game 2, Harrelson quipped that New York starter Jon Matlack had made Cincinnati’s vaunted offense “look like me hitting.” The following game, Harrelson took exception to a hard slide from Pete Rose on a double play turn, leading to the fracas.
As he self-deprecatingly noted, Harrelson wasn’t much of an offensive threat. He never hit more than one home run in a season — he had seven over his 16-year MLB career — and didn’t top a .659 OPS in any season in which he reached 250 plate appearances. That the Mets nevertheless stuck with him as their primary shortstop for over a decade speaks to how highly the team valued him as a defender. Harrelson remained in Queens through the 1977 campaign.
New York dealt him to the Phillies on the eve of the ’78 season. He played two years in Philadelphia and logged 87 contests with the 1980 Rangers to conclude his playing career. Harrelson appeared in more than 1500 games. He was a .236/.327/.288 hitter in over 5500 trips to the plate. He appeared on MVP ballots in three seasons and helped the Mets to two pennants.
He returned to the Mets in his post-playing days, managing in the farm system before taking on a role on the coaching staff. He was inducted into the team Hall of Fame in 1986 and, as the Cohens mentioned, was on staff for the franchise’s second championship. Harrelson got a brief look as manager, replacing Davey Johnson midseason in 1990. He led the team to a 70-49 record down the stretch but was fired the following season after a second half collapse put the club at 74-80.
MLBTR sends our condolences to Harrelson’s family, friends, loved ones and former teammates.
User 2161944466
Rip
Old York
Heartbreaking news. Bud Harrelson was more than stats and games – he embodied Mets grit and loyalty. From ’69 to ’86, he defined an era. Not just a Gold Glove shortstop, but the guy who made every play an art. His impact, both on and off the field, is immeasurable. Condolences to Bud’s family and friends. Rest in peace, baseball legend. The diamond won’t be the same without you.
sascoach2003
Very well said. One of the best of his time. RIP.
Arnold Ziffel
My youth is all dying, RIP.
andyger63
I remember well his fight with Pete Rose at 2nd base after Rose slid hard into him. Part of my youth. RIP Buddy. A great Met.
Fever Pitch Guy
Andy – Another great memory is how he outran Ray Knight to home plate in Game 6. Even though it was against my team, it was a memorable sight.
Thoughts and prayers to Bud’s family and friends.
bobbyvwannabe
Thanks for your thoughts. Could not have said it better.
Dubbs
Beautifully said
WestVillageTiger
RIP…
D2323
Bad article that fails to mention his career as manager and owner of the Long Island Ducks who retired his number. That’s a huge part of his legacy.
Blue Baron
But it pales in comparison to his MLB career, especially his time with the Mets.
D2323
If you ever met Bud you’d know he’d want to be remembered for his contributions to his community and not just his baseball stats. In a huge article that continually lists his stat lines and OPS and all that mumbo jumbo, they could have written two sentences about the work he did for the Ducks organization and the young players in his charge, as well as the local community. His legacy is not his OPS or his other baseball accomplishments, or like ESPN is reporting him as “the guy who fought Pete Rose” his legacy is the exceptional man and person Bud was. It deserved a mention.
siddfinch1079
It’s a “bad article” because it doesn’t mention an independent minor league team that he owned? Seems a little much,
This one belongs to the Reds
Wow. Difficult to see. A lot of memories of guys from my youth.
I remember his little discussion with Pete Rose in the 1973 playoffs.
RIP.
10centBeerNight
RIP Miracle Met.
JoeBrady
Ouch. I guess he was 79, but it doesn’t feel like that long ago that I was watching him.
Windowpane
He could pick it.
BlueSkies_LA
Brings back great memories of the ’60s Mets, from awfulness to triumph in a few years led by a most unlikely group of players including Bud Harrelson. Few of them would have a job in today’s game.
JoeBrady
from awfulness to triumph in a few years
===========================
I’m not a Mets fan, but I vividly remember the night the scoreboard flashed:
“Guess who’s in 1st?”
That must have been stunning for Met fans at the time.
BlueSkies_LA
For sure. I grew up a huge Mets fan going back to the “can’t anybody here play this game?” days, but it was the ’69 Miracle Mets that really turned me a baseball fan for life. Hard to describe the feeling when I rode my bike to school the morning after the World Series and seeing where somebody had scrawled “you gotta believe” on a wall.
Jplane
RIP Buddy. The saddest thing is that a slick-fielding SS like Bud Harelson or Mark Belanger probably wouldn’t even be a big leaguer these days in the era of offensive middle infielders.
robw5555
Harrelson may have been able to get work as mostly a defense guy. His stick was passable. No power but passable. Belager I dont know. There are some big sticks at 2B and SS. But not every team has Trea Turner, Lindor or Seager. All 300 million dollar men.
BlueSkies_LA
He’d be considered a utility infielder today, maybe, and no way does that lead to playing in more than 1,500 games over a 16-year career. He was a slap hitter in the days when this was considered to be a respectable way to get on base. Current metrics would relegate him to second string, at best. If you want to know how the game has changed, look no further than Buddy Harrelson.
Blue Baron
He was a great bunter, and Hodges often batted him leadoff, probably against lefties when Agee hit third.
AgeeHarrelsonJones
He often batted leadoff in 69 but by May of 70 Hodges moved Agee to leadoff and Buddy to the 2 hole and Cleon third. And that’s how I got my name!
cleonswoboda
Buddy batting second made it a better option for Agee stealing or Buddy bunting him over.
GarryHarris
The great pitching staffs of that time required high range defensive SS like Bud Harrelson, Mark Belanger, Eddie Brinkman and all those no hit defenders of that era.
Unfortunately, today few teams value defense and fans (and owners) mistake flashy for good.
Blue Baron
A great Met and a real gentleman.
I was privileged to sit with him in the press box at a Yankees game, ironically, when he was working as a scout for the Mets. He shared insights about how to watch the pitcher and where he positioned himself on the rubber as to how it affected the break of the pitch.
He talked to me without arrogance or pretense, and I would never have seen as a fan what he was describing.
An unforgettable experience.
BlueSkies_LA
Cool story! Thanks for sharing.
robw5555
Yep. He was one of those likeable guys.
377194
Loved Buddy. RIP
Zheff F
3
robw5555
A nice guy and a Met fan favorite. I remember many yrs ago around maybe 1982-85 I was a dealer at a baseball card show. We had a show in a VERY old NY hotel which I think it still there. I got in the elevator and Bud Harrelson was in it. I thought that was cool at the time. Dont ask me why. He was a friendly guy. He did alot of baseball card shows in those days locally. So did Ed Kranepool. Another Met fan favorite.
Blue Baron
I attended a card show in Manhattan in 1989, an event for the 20th anniversary of the 1969 Mets.
I picked up a copy of the 1970 yearbook and got the 1969 team photo signed by the players who came, including Bud.
I remember going to shows at a hotel called the McAlpin.
andyger63
So sad to see this. RIP Buddy.
Gomez Toth
Bud lived in the neighborhood where I grew up, and I got his autograph when I was six or seven years old, 1970 or so. A real gentleman. My favorite image of him was from an after-game celebration, standing next to Seaver, with Buddy wearing a Superman shirt. RIP.
Unclemike1525
Ah Buddy Harrelson RIP. Helped dash many a Cub fans hopes in 1969. Fantastic ballplayer but you’ll never see another guy like him today. A guy who chokes up and tries to put the ball in play. They’re considered dinosaurs.
Attystephenadams
A local hero of mine growing up on the North Shore. I met him several times as a kid and a teen. He was a real gentleman, and happy to talk with kids and sign autographs. His road roommate Tom Terrific was the star, but Buddy was the heart and soul. RIP Buddy!
Flanster
Met him in 1974 when he appeared at a sporting goods store next door to the record store where I worked. Rest in peace,Bud!!!
For Love of the Game
I hate Alzheimer’s. My mom died from complications of the disease 12 years ago this Saturday. I’m sorry for Harrelson, his family, and everyone with a loved one battling the disease.
Blue Baron
I had an older cousin who had vascular dementia, which advances and kills in a similar fashion.
Horrible.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
How sad.
TheJoker
I grew up a Mets fan in a neighborhood where Mickey Mantle was King. Oh, the verbal ridicule! I spent many hours on the back porch watching the Mets on a portable B&W TV with foil wrapped around the rabbit ears listening to Nelson, Murphy & Kiner.
Bud, Seaver, Koosman, Kranepool, Grote, Boswell, Cleon, Agee, Swoboda, etc. gave me the love of baseball…now 55 years later… despite all the current off-the-field BS that overshadows the actual game. Thanks, Gentlemen!
BlueSkies_LA
I can relate. In those days to be a baseball fan in the NYC area meant being either a Mets fan or a jerk!
budman3 2
Bud was my idol growing up and I copied everything he did on the field as a SS and as a no power hitter growing up in Little League.. I even kept a scrape book of every article, picture, baseball card and box score of big games. I handed it to Mel Stottlemyre at a ST game and asked him to give it to him from “a fan”. Hope he got it.
Of course, I was devastated when I found out he smoked cigarettes and reality as a teenager set in. But I couldn’t have picked a better ballplayer to idolize back in my youth.
SonnySteele
I hope the Mets add a Bud Harrelson Day to the 2024 schedule.
all in the suit that you wear
RIP
padam
Sad day. RIP.
Non Roster Invitee
I remember his 1971 Topps card with I think Bobby Bonds sliding in to second. I always thought he was safe!
RIP Bud.
bjhaas1977
“Baseball was Buddy Buddy Good to Him!”
Niekro floater
RIP He was a scrapper
mookie1
I met him a few times when I was working at Hauppauge Pizza Hut in the early 90’s. We all thought he was a great guy.
HOF19
R.I.P Buddy …..One my top 10 favorite METS EVER !!!!!
Chris from NJ
Was really sad to hear of Bud Harrelson’s passing. I remember when he took over for Davey Johnson in mid 1990. The Mets were in transition with Hernandez and The Kid gone. Strawberry was about to leave. Gooden was struggling with demons. Coney and Frank Viola keep them in it and so did Bud right up until the last week of the season if memory serves me right. He was a true Met and he’ll be greatly missed.
Canosucks
Amazing Grace to Bud’s family; I got to enjoy watching him play!
Class solid act.