Bud Harrelson

Lore & Background

Harrelson was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in an unspecified year. He was the only person to take part in both of the Mets' World Series championships and appear in the first three World Series for the team; he won in 1969 and appeared in the 1973 World Series as a player and in 1986 as a coach. Harrelson is also the only person in Mets history to have appeared in four playoff seasons: as a player in 1969 and 1973 and as a coach in 1986 and 1988. He was known by the nicknames 'Twiggy', 'Mighty Mouse', and 'Mini Hawk' from his teammates. He won one Gold Glove Award in 1971. He hit a total of seven home runs during his 15-year major league career. He managed the Mets in 1990 and 1991, and was fired with a week remaining in the 1991 season. He substituted as a broadcaster on 60 Mets games covered by WWOR-TV in 1983.

In Their Own Story

The lights at Shea Stadium hummed with a low electric buzz as the night air cooled over Queens. Bud adjusted his cap, feeling the familiar weight of the glove against his palm. It was Game Five, the pressure mounting like the humidity in the stands. He stepped into the batter's box, the roar of the crowd fading into a singular focus on the pitcher's mound. A swing, a crack, and the ball soared over the fence—a moment frozen in time that would echo through decades of Mets history.

Reader's Guide

Harrelson anchored the Mets' infield for 13 seasons, including their 1969 championship season and 1973 pennant-winning season. He had a lifetime batting average of .236 and a lifetime .969 fielding percentage. He was a National League All-Star in 1970 and 1971. On May 28, 1969, he hit an RBI single that began an 11-game winning streak. In the 1969 NLCS, his two hits included a go-ahead triple in Game 1 and an RBI double in Game 2. In the 1973 NLCS, his comment about the Big Red Machine led to a confrontation with Pete Rose, culminating in a bench-clearing brawl in Game 3. After his playing career, he joined the Mets' coaching staff as a first-base coach and infield instructor in 1982. He managed the Little Falls Mets in an unspecified year and was named New York–Penn League manager of the year. He managed the Columbia Mets in an unspecified year. He replaced Bobby Valentine as third base coach in 1985. He replaced Davey Johnson as Mets manager 42 games into the 1990 season, leading the team to a 91–71 record. He was fired with a week remaining in the 1991 season and replaced by Mike Cubbage. In 2000, he became part-owner and manager of the Long Island Ducks in their inaugural season, later becoming a coach for home games. The Ducks retired his number 3 uniform in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Harrelson was born on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Niles, California.
• His nickname 'Bud' came from his younger brother, who called him 'brother', shortened to 'Bud'.
• He was raised in Hayward, California, and attended Sunset High School, graduating in 1962.
• He enrolled at San Francisco State University and signed with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1963.
• He made his MLB debut on September 2, 1965.