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How I Became A Lifelong Bud Harrelson Fan

Shannon’s apology to Bud made me want to share a story that made me a lifelong fan.

July 20, 1985 – The Mets were taking on the Atlanta Braves on a sunny Saturday afternoon.  I had been given tickets to the game and took my younger brother (I was 18, he was 14).  The seats were great, the Mets won (16-4), Darryl hit 2 HRs and Doc got the W.

After the game my brother and I snuck into the press level (imagine trying to do that now).  I still remember picking up a release that discussed the Mets acquisition of Tom Paciorek.  But I digress…

After we were chased out, we finally made our way out of Shea.  As we were outside I saw Bud Harrelson coming out from the team office doors with his wife and family.  He smiled and said hi to the few fans that were there and headed towards his car.  Two guys – not much older than I was – had started towards Bud, but stopped when they saw he was busy with his kids.  Bud got his kids into his car, and then called the 2 guys over, giving both autographs.

I saw this unfold and grabbed my brother.  We started towards Bud, but by this time Bud was in the car and had started it up.  We stopped – once a guy is in the car that was it.  Well Bud saw us, got out of his car and called us over.  He signed both of our scorecards (yes I still have mine) and was actually apologetic that he almost drove off without seeing us.

What an impact that made.  I had always liked Bud anyway (even told Pete Rose off when I met him), but this elevated him in my eyes.  He didn’t have to get out of his car, especially with his family with him.  But he did – and it made a lasting impact.

About 5 years ago Bud and a few other 69ers were at Keyspan Park for some charity event.  I had the opportunity to talk to Bud and thank him for his kindness 20 years earlier.  Of course he didn’t remember it, but he said he always felt it was important to be there for the fans.

I said it then and I’ll say it now.  Thanks Bud.

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An apology to Bud Harrelson

Kids,

One time one of the most beloved Mets was a man named Bud Harrelson.

You can look up his stats and you’ll wonder how a man with a .236 lifetime average could last 16 seasons in the majors never mind be loved.  I have met Bud, he’s a nice man, gives off a nice vibe, and definitely isn’t on the roids.  Baseball Reference has him at 5 foot 11.  No way.

Never mind my passion for donuts, I’m much bigger than he is – and I am not big.   It was a different time in baseball.

Before Ripken and steroids, you could bat .219 and still start at SS as long as you got to enough balls.  That was a defensive position, much like catcher is now.  If you got some offense, that was a bonus.

Most of Buddy’s exploits were before my time, although I frequently saw his plays in the rain delay films that are now repurposed as Mets Yearbook on SNY.

In 1985 one of baseball’s great dynasties was born.  Although the pesky Cardinals edged out the Mets, the Amazins were surely on the rise with their young pitching, three sure-fire Hall of Famers, and a cast of gritty gamers.

Davey Johnson ran the team, and when Davey got tossed Buddy would take the reigns.  You’ll see Buddy wearing #23 in the Game 6 video as there goes Knight.

By 1991 something had gone horribly wrong.  The dynasty only won once.   Davey had been fired.   The Captain had not only gone to Cleveland, his career was now over.   Young stud pitcher Ron Darling was an Expo.   Mookie had gone to Toronto.  Dykstra and McDowell to Philly for someone named Juan Samuel .  The great Dwight (now “Doc”) Gooden won 13.

And we booed.

There was nothing more entertaining in those days than listening to Mad Dog Russo kill the Mets, and specifically Buddy, for hours at a time.

And we booed.

We booed so much that Buddy stopped coming out to make pitching changes.

So we booed more.

Our beloved shortstop and someone who was always the SS on the “all-time Mets” until Reyes came along was now the target of boos.

Since then Buddy hasn’t been around much.  I bet if you’re under 30 you don’t know much about him.   Both are a shame.

Buddy, I was one of the boo-ers.   I apologize.  20 years too late.

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Subway Series ticket presales

As I did in the winter, I’m choosing to share information that pre-sales exist, but I won’t be posting codes.  I don’t think that’s cool to do (in a Fonzie way) as it hurts those who have earned the pre-sale and if the Mets wanted everyone to have a code they would post it on mets.com

Anyways, maybe you have a friend who can help you take advantage of these, or you can check your spamblocker.

Friday 10am: pre-sale for plan holders.    Max 6 tickets split any way you want.  6 for one game, Two, two and two.  Etc.  No special password, you either have an account or not.

Tuesday May 4th: available to Flushing Flash subscribers.  That’s a pretty large database, and if you aren’t signed up for the flash you should.

You may also choose to buy a 5 game Summer Premium Pack

As I learn of more, I’ll share.

Personally, I find the crowds at these games to be filled with knuckleheads (and it’s not just Yankee knuckleheads).   For me, it’s a good time to cash in on stubhub and off-set some other costs, and enjoy the beauty of my 60 inch television.  And Sunday Night games suck.

Injoy the floating feeling.

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Injoy the Floating Feeling of Mets baseball

Randy who runs the Mets-humor site The Apple sent this over and swears it’s not a joke.  These are the instructions for this year’s plan-holder’s gift: the Floating Baseball. (Which reminds me, I never got mine)   I know the Mets have been fan-friendly and are in first place and all, but this is kinda what I do…it’s all in good fun Metsies.

I vote right now that if the Mets aren’t going to take Orange and Blue seriously (black is neither of those colors) we all agree that the new fans motto is:

Injoy the Floating Feeling.

Win 9 of 10?  Injoy the Floating Feeling! Be honest, is it better than We Believe In Comebacks?  Yes.   Your Season Has Come.  Way better.  Our Team, Our Time.  Please.

Who’s with me?  I know you are.

(If you’re good with photoshop you know what to do…and if say you run a large Mets blog and it’s an off-day…)

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Email: Mets HOF/Uniform Question

One more post before first-pitch.  An email exchange with Clancy:

Hey, Shannon

I was just looking through my pictures from the Mets Hall of Fame that I took on opening day and, minutiae geek that I am, noticed something – the Seaver jersey that he signed and indicated was one of his ’69 jerseys:

There doesn’t appear to be an MLB 100th Anniversary patch on the right shoulder, or am I missing it?

(I know you’re not the uniform detail guy, but I can never remember who that is …)

So I went to my uniform guy, Osh41 (oh yeah along with Mushnick, Uni Watch and Straight Cash Homey I also rip off everything Osh41 says to me on the phone)…here’s Osh:

during the season and nlcs they had the mlb 100 patch on the left sleeve for home and road. no mets logo patch.

for the WS (home only) they had 2 patches.  the mets logo on the left sleeve and the 100 on the right.

could have had the patch removed from the jersey for the 1970 season?  dunno –

Hmmm…well that was more than I knew.   I told Clancy I’d share it with the class.  Anyone out there know?  Back to Clancy…

Well, if anyone would know …

Wow, I always associated the ’69 unis with the team patch on the left shoulder and the MLB patch on the right. I just remembered an old Mets book I have that has pix from ’69 and checked it out – yep, primarily MLB patch throughout the season, though I did see one photo, purportedly taken during a game in May, that was just a Mets-only patch. Interestin’.

Who knows how much Mitchell & Ness eventually came to influence my selective memory over the years …

Thanks for looking into it!

No problem.  This is what we do.   I find all this stuff fascinating and I’m learning I am not the only one.