On January 11, former Mets player, coach, and manager Bud Harrelson passed away. Harrelson had quite a run in the Mets’ organization, including holding the distinction of being the only person to wear a Mets’ uniform for both their 1969 and 1986 world championships. Although he was a gifted defender, the native of Niles, California, won just one gold glove during his 16 major league...
When 21-year-old Darryl Strawberry made his major league debut with the New York Mets on May 6, 1983, against the Cincinnati Reds at home, fans were eager for an impact player to help turn the organization’s fortunes around. After all, the club hadn’t made the postseason since they lost to the Oakland Athletics in seven games in the 1973 Fall Classic. In addition, the Mets...
We’re looking back at the 50th anniversary of the Mets’ 1973 National League pennant-winning team by reviewing the most inspirational figures of that remarkable run. We continue with the only person in uniform for both of the franchise’s World Series titles and remains one of the most beloved Mets ever. Look at the stat sheet for Bud Harrelson and you won’t see his true...
There were two themes to Mets’ regular season of 1986. Total dominance was one. The National League East was all but secured by early summer. They held a vice-grip-like 13-game lead, and had the skipper of the defending NL champs, the Cards’ Whitey Herzog, waving the white flag in surrender. They didn’t just beat the opposition, they beat them down. Which gets us to the other...
This year’s All-Star game was broadcast on Fox. The network tried a few innovations during the broadcast, however, the game drew record-low television ratings. The mid-summer classic, according to an article in The Athletic drew 7.5 million viewers, down 10% from the game’s 2021 audience. The home run derby on Monday drew 6.8 million viewers. Baseball’s All-Star game...
On April 5, 1983, Tom Seaver started on Opening Day at Shea Stadium for the New York Mets. “The Franchise” had returned, after an exile in Cincinnati that had lasted almost six years. The Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies that day by a 2-0 score, but that was anti-climactic. More than 46,000 fans packed into the old ballpark in Queens to watch their favorite son return to...
If hitting is the most difficult feat in sports, as some claim, then think of the challenge that pinch-hitting presents. Inning after inning on the bench without a chance to get into the rhythm of the game, and oftentimes being asked to then produce in a clutch situation. The late Rusty Staub made this demanding task his calling card during the back-end of his storied major-league career...
On March 23, 1978, the New York Mets traded shortstop Bud Harrelson to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league infielder Freddie Andrews (who never played a game for the Mets) and cash. The trade left pitcher Jerry Koosman and infielder/outfielder/pinch hitter Ed Kranepool as the lone remaining players from the 1969 championship team. Key players from the 1969 team, such as Tom Seaver, Cleon...
Baseball lost another Hall of Fame player on December 26, as Phil Niekro has passed at the age of 81. Earlier this year, Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson, Joe Morgan, Whitey Ford, Lou Brock, and Al Kaline all lost their lives. Niekro, who specialized in throwing the knuckleball, pitched for 24 years in the major leagues, 21 of which with the Braves (both Milwaukee and Atlanta). He is honored with a statue...
With hot stove simmering at the moment, let’s take a walk down Mets Memory Lane, and have a look at a man who wore a Mets uniform for both of the team’s championships, Bud Harrelson. Darrel McKinley “Bud” Harrelson, from Niles, CA, made his Mets debut at shortstop in 1965 at the age of 21. The speedy defensive whiz played his first full season in the major leagues in...
As is still the case today, every team gets to send at least one player to the All Star Game. In 1962 and 1963, the Mets sent Richie Ashburn and Duke Snider respectively, although both were well past their prime. But in 1964, for the first time, a Met was selected to start in the All Star Game and that was second baseman Ron Hunt. Because the game was played at Shea Stadium (a game I attended, I...
Good morning Mets fans! Unfortunately, news has not changed since the leak emerged on Tuesday that the Mets ownership deal, which would have Wall Street Billionaire Steve Cohen take over 80% stake of the team, was on “life support.” On a brighter note, NY Post Wall Street business reporter Thorton McEnery who broke the story, believes the deal is not dead yet as he spoke on the matter during a...
