The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby field was officially set Wednesday as the final two spots were filled for the eight-man event. Earlier in the day, MLB announced that Rangers slugger Adolis García would be participating in the derby for the second year in a row. Shortly after, during last night’s Phillies-Dodgers game on ESPN, while mic’d up, Teoscar Hernández told the broadcast booth that he would be the final participant in the Home Run Derby. The two join two-time derby champ and Mets first baseman, Pete Alonso, as well as Gunnar Henderson, Marcell Ozuna, Alec Bohm, Bobby Witt Jr. and Jose Ramírez.

On Wednesday night, the Mets took Game 2 of their six-game homestand in another solid all-around performance, beating the Nationals 6-2. Luis Severino battled through 6 1/3 innings, only allowing 2 ER on 4 H and leaving the game at a 2-1 deficit. However, a four-run sixth inning led by Jose Iglesias put the Mets up 5-2, and it was smooth sailing for the Amazin’s from there on. The Mets are now only 0.5 games back of the Padres for the third Wild Card spot and 1.0 games back of the Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot. Click here for the full game breakdown.

It’s an early start for the Mets on Thursday as they’ll go for a sweep of the Nationals with David Peterson (3-0, 3.58 ERA) going against Mackenzie Gore (6-7, 3.83 ERA) at 1:10 p.m. ET.

Latest Mets News

The Mets placed RHP Reed Garrett on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation and activated newly acquired RHP Phil Maton. Along with that, they also optioned RHP Eric Orze to Triple-A Syracuse and called up LHP Danny Young from Syracuse. Click here for more information on the club’s moves.

The Mets are considering having Kodai Senga pitch Sunday at Triple-A Syracuse on standard rest, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The club would rather give Senga five days of rest between starts, but the All-Star break prevents them from doing so now unless his next outing is a sim game.

Infield prospect JT Schwartz was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse after the 24-year-old hit .295/.408/.424 for Double-A Binghamton this season. 

Pitching prospect Jonah Tong continues to deal for High-A Brooklyn: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 80 pitches/53 strikes. His High-A ERA is down to 2.85.

Ryan Clifford had another good night at the plate for Double-A Binghamton, going 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs, and six RBIs. He has a .923 OPS for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

Latest MLB News

Max Scherzer told A.J. Pierzynski of Foul Territory TV that he would not be willing to waive his no-trade clause at this year’s trade deadline. Scherzer in response to potentially waiving the no-trade clause, “Yeah, I’m not gonna do that… We’re gonna play better baseball. It’s gonna be a moot point to even talk about… We’re gonna win here.” 

HBO will be releasing a four-part documentary series on Pete Rose which will chronicle the life and career of one of sports’ most polarizing figures. The docuseries will premiere on July 24 on HBO Max.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on the restricted list after previously being on administrative leave, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Franco will not be paid and will not be able to accrue service time.

After being charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor on Tuesday, Franco is now also being accused of human trafficking according to a press release by Dominican authorities, per Juan Arturo of ESPN. If convicted, the crime has penalties up to 20 years in prison. 

Bobby Miller, who was supposed to be one of the top arms in the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation this season, was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Miller missed two months due to a right shoulder injury and has given up 19 earned runs in 17 1/3 IP since returning, ballooning his ERA to 8.07 on the season. 

The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly offered Aaron Judge a 10-yearm $300 million deal before he returned to the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million deal in 2022, per Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays, a notoriously frugal franchise, have only doled out two contracts topping $100 million in their history. 

A robot bartender is going to be serving drinks at Globe Life Field during All-Star Week in Texas. 

A robot bartender is going to be serving drinks during All-Star Week in Texas 👀🤖

(via @stensinthecity) pic.twitter.com/IGp4DM6ZAl

— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2024

The New York Yankees signed left-handed relief pitcher Tim Mayza to a minor league deal, per Katie Woo and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Mayza was recently released by the Blue Jays after over six years in Toronto.

Former Mets RHP Matt Festa signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers, per Shawn McFarland of Dallas Morning News. The Staten Island native was DFA’d by the Mets on July 3rd after one appearance with the club.

Latest on MMO

Michael Famulari analyzes the Mets new acquisition, Phil Maton.

Mojo Hill details the Mets’ decision to put Reed Garrett on the injured list and the other bullpen moves.

Ricky Keeler highlights how Jose Quintana has hit his stride with Francisco Alvarez behind the dish.

On This Date in Mets History

2021: Francisco Alvarez hits a home run in the Futures Game during All-Star weekend at Coors Field in Colorado.

2018: Brandon Nimmo breaks a scoreless tie against the Phillies in the 11th inning with a three-run walk-off home run. 

2015: Matt Harvey hits his first career home run into the Party City Deck at Citi Field against Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2006: After getting to the finals of the Home Run Derby the night prior, David Wright hits a home run in his first All-Star Game at-bat and joins Lee Mazzilli as the only Mets to ever go yard in the All-Star Game.

Birthdays: Blaine Boyer (43), Mark Little (52), Donne Wall (57), Jack Heidemann (75)

The post Morning Briefing: Home Run Derby Field is Set appeared first on Metsmerized.

Although he was a gifted defender, the native of Niles, California, won just one gold glove during his 16 major league seasons. He ended his career with a fielding percentage of .976, playing the vast majority of his games at shortstop. Harrelson was generally a light hitter, ending his career with a slash line of .236/.327/.615. Small in stature (five feet, eleven inches tall, and 160 pounds), Buddy ran well (127 career stolen bases) and was a skillful bunter.

Bud Harrelson, Ed Kranepool.

Many associated with the Mets’ organization, including Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling, have expressed their memories of the team’s primary shortstop from 1967-1977. The themes of their comments have been very consistent. Harrelson was a good player, but his value was more than his slash line or his outs above average. He was a genuinely nice man, a hard worker, a great teammate, and a competitor who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.

Here are some memories from a fan who was lucky enough to see some of his career in real time. One thing that jumps out immediately is that former broadcaster, the late Lindsey Nelson, would seemingly remind the audience every game that Harrelson was born on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

In the 1973 season, the Mets had a remarkable September run to the World Series. They took down the mighty Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series, setting up a date with the reigning champion Oakland Athletics. The Mets lost Game One, and of course, needed a win in Game Two. The game went to extra innings. Harrelson led off the tenth inning with a single and was on third with one out when Felix Millan hit a fly ball to fairly shallow left field. Left fielder Joe Rudi made the catch, and Bud decided to challenge the throw with his great speed.

Though he was called out, Harrelson certainly appeared to be safe. During the argument, he was ejected and said to the umpire, “You can’t throw me out because of your incompetence!” That was a glimpse at his fiery nature that endeared him to his teammates.

When Mets fans of a certain age think of Harrelson, their thoughts most often go to Game Three of the 1973 NLCS. Here’s the backstory. The Mets had great pitching, and in the first two games of the series (split one to one), Mets’ pitching held the Big Red Machine to two runs and eight hits. Harrelson quipped after Game Two that the Mets’ hurlers were making the Reds’ great hitters “look like a bunch of Bud Harrelsons.”

This did not land well, and the Reds went into Game Three with a chip on their shoulders. Pete Rose, attempting to break up a double play, went hard into second base, drawing Harrelson’s ire. A fight erupted, and it went like this.

That winter, Harrelson presented Rose with a “nice guy award” at a banquet, and said he threw his best punch at Rose, “hitting his fist with my eye.” His sense of humor was one of the reasons Bud was so popular wherever he went.

I’d like to close this with a semi-personal story. In the 1980s, a cousin of mine went to an awards dinner where Harrelson was among the honorees. My cousin happened to park near Harrelson, and they walked in at the same time, engaging in some light chit-chat. My cousin took the opportunity to express his admiration of Harrelson but said that he was a die-hard Yankees fan.

Later that night, my cousin was wandering around the parking lot, trying to remember where he parked (no car chirping back then). Harrelson went to his car and saw my cousin aimlessly roaming the parking lot. Bud yelled across the parking lot, “Hey buddy, it’s over here!” That’s a pretty nice gesture from an athlete and an honoree to some guy who expressed loyalty to the cross-town rivals.

It’s a sad day in the Mets’ organization. One of the team’s legends has passed on.

Rest in peace, Derrel McKinley Harrelson.

The post Remembering Mets’ Shortstop Bud Harrelson appeared first on Metsmerized.

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 hadn’t posted a regular season winning percentage above .500 since they went 86-76 in 1976.

The lean, six-foot-six prodigy out of Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles had lofty expectations to be the next great superstar in Major League Baseball. Poised with a beautiful left-handed swing, a ton of power and exceptional speed, Strawberry showcased his abilities right away.

In 1983, Strawberry became the first position player in franchise history to win the National League Rookie of the Year, slugging 26 home runs, swiping 19 bases and posting a 134 OPS+. Strawberry hit seven more home runs than the Mets’ previous rookie record holder in Ron Swoboda (19, 1965). Strawberry’s single-season mark lasted until 2019, when Pete Alonso shattered it with 53 homers.

From 1984 through the 1991 season, Strawberry made eight consecutive All-Star teams (seven with the Mets), was co-winner of the 1986 Home Run Derby with Wally Joyner, won a World Series championship in 1986, recorded a 30-30 season in 1987 and led the National League in home runs in 1988 (39).

Strawberry was a dominant force at the plate all throughout the eighties. Among 182 players with a minimum of 3,000 plate appearances in that decade, Strawberry ranked sixth in wRC+ (143) and second in isolated power (.259). His combination of power and speed made him a threat not only at the plate but on the bases. No player posted more seasons of 25+ home runs and 25+ stolen bases in the eighties than Strawberry with five.

Over his first nine seasons, Strawberry hit 280 home runs and stole 201 bases. He’s one of three players in Major League Baseball history to record 250+ homers and 200+ stolen bases in his first nine seasons, along with Barry Bonds and Mike Trout. Strawberry is also one of five players to record 250+ homers, 200+ doubles and 200+ stolen bases before turning 30, joining the aforementioned Bonds and Trout, along with Hall of Famer Willie Mays and Alex Rodriguez.

While Strawberry was an important fixture in Mets history, fans have always pondered what type of numbers he would’ve posted had the temptations and vices not been so prevalent throughout his career. The struggles and issues Strawberry encountered are well-documented; though, for the now 61-year-old, he’s found a new lease on life.

Strawberry and his wife, Tracy, founded Strawberry Ministries, in which Darryl travels around the country more than 250 times a year to deliver sermons and use his own experiences to aid others in times of need.

While his ministry work takes up the majority of Strawberry’s time, he will return to his baseball roots next year when the Mets retire his uniform number. No. 18 will join Willie Mays’ 24, Keith Hernandez’s 17 and Mike Piazza’s 31 as the only position players to have their jerseys retired by the Mets.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Strawberry over the phone, where he discussed almost quitting baseball in his second year of pro ball, instructors who were influential to his early development and what it means to have his number retired by the Mets.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Strawberry: I looked up to Pete Rose. That was one of my favorite players, along with Dave Parker.

MMO: What are your memories from the 1980 MLB Draft, and all the fanfare that came with your high school career?

Strawberry: I remember my junior year we went to the city championship, and we went to Dodger Stadium. We had a great team. We had, I think, four players that got drafted off that team. We played in Dodger Stadium, and we lost to Granada Hills. I remember the third baseman came in to close out the game, and the third baseman for Granada Hills was John Elway.

It was a big deal because we were an all-Black team, and they were from the valley and all white. Our coach was White, so it was a really big deal going into that city championship.

We had a great run in the playoffs. We crushed everybody, and we were favored to beat Granada Hills. I remember Elway was a draft pick by the Royals in 1979, but he was also headed to Stanford to play football.

MMO: Heading into your senior year of high school, did you feel a lot of pressure knowing that you had the chance to be a top draft pick?

Strawberry: I think it was more excitement than anything. When I went into my senior year, I came out of basketball season, and I had one day of baseball practice before the season started. My first day out on the baseball field, I had to practice, and the next day we had a game.

In my first game, I remember about 50 scouts being there. My baseball coach used to follow me when I played basketball. I used to dunk on people, and he didn’t want me to get hurt because he thought I might hurt my ankle or something. He knew there was a lot of attention focused on me, but he didn’t tell me during the course of my basketball season.

Once I got going into baseball season, he said, “I didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on you. I knew there was going to be a lot of attention focused on you. A lot of scouts are always calling in asking about you, and asking me what kind of player I think you can be.”

A lot of scouts thought I would be the next Willie McCovey, or compared me to Ted Williams. He (Strawberry’s high school coach) was being extremely careful about not trying to compare me to all of that. He just wanted me to go out and play.

The first game of the season, I think I struck out three times. I just came from basketball and only had one day of practice, and all of these scouts were coming.

Obviously, I got going. And when I got going, it was real. They saw me and saw me play well. They saw me hit the ball a long way during my senior year. Once I got going, they realized that I was probably going to be the number one pick, and the Mets had the number one pick [in 1980].

MMO: Going from amateur baseball to professional ball, were there one or two specific challenges you faced?

Strawberry: Yeah, it was a culture shock! I went from Los Angeles to Kingsport, Tennessee, a long way from home. I kept calling my mom and said, ‘Mom, I don’t know if I even want to do this.’ She said, “No, you wanted to do this. This is what you wanted to do for your life. You made the decision, so you’re going to have to stick with it.”

I went to Kingsport, and I was only there for about a month of my first year. Chuck Hiller was my manager. He was a great guy, loose and easy for me.

The next year, I went to Lynchburg, Virginia, and that’s where I almost came close to quitting. I was deep somewhere in the backwoods playing baseball, and there were a lot of racial things being said about me. I was called all kinds of names.

I remember my manager, Gene Dusan, always being good to me. I love Gene Dusan. He was a good manager for me because he kept me together, and he told me not to look at the stands when people were yelling at me. He said, “Don’t look up there. Keep your focus on the field.” He would always get in my face about that because I think he thought that I would take a bat and run up there and start eliminating people.

They were saying some crazy stuff in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was just something I had to learn. If I was going to play, I had to learn to get used to this. I was 19-years-old and thinking, Okay, this is what it’s going to be like.

I came close to quitting; I didn’t show up to the ballpark one day. I had a roommate that I was staying with, and I stayed home with him. They thought I went AWOL and was just smoking weed. I was like, ‘I’m quitting baseball.’ My roommate said, “Yeah, you don’t have to deal with all of this craziness.”

The organization was so worried about me, and they came down. Lloyd McLendon was sent down. He was supposed to be on that team, but he broke his wrist in spring training, so he had to stay in extended spring. We were supposed to be roommates, and he was like a big brother, and I was close to him.

He came to the park and saw me and said, “What’s going on?” He sat me down and we had a real talk. He told me I needed to get it together and to focus, and that I’d make it to the show one day. He told me I had to deal with it, even though it was tough. I was a young kid, and Lloyd was a little bit older; he went to college and everything.

I came close to quitting, and they said to just give it another year. I gave it another year and went to Jackson, Mississippi, and I hit 34 home runs and stole 45 bases [in 1982]. Gene Dusant was my manager again. I realized there, from that season, that I became a ballplayer.

MMO: I’ve read that following the ’82 minor league season, you played winter ball in Venezuela. From the article, it seemed like playing in Venezuela was instrumental in your overall development.

Strawberry: Venezuela was great because the competition was different and very strong. It really took me to another level because if I was going to play, I was going to have to play against this kind of competition, and I knew that.

The Venezuelan competition was a mix of guys who had been to the big leagues and in Triple-A. And here I am, 20-years-old, and I’m playing down there. Once I got going, I hit the brakes off of the ball.

A lot of the other guys I was playing with had already been to the big leagues, and they were telling me that I was going to the big leagues the way I played. They told me to just keep plugging away, work hard and keep playing. And I did.

I developed that year going to winter ball. I came back the next year and went to Triple-A to start the season. I got off to a good start. I came to the ballpark one day, and I wasn’t in the lineup. I’m like, ‘Davey [Johnson], what’s up? I’m not in the lineup.’ He told me to come into his office, and he said, “I’m not playing you today because you’re going to the big leagues tomorrow.”

MMO: It must’ve been surreal to hear those words as a 21-year-old.

Strawberry: It really was. Getting there and feeling the expectation, and I got off to a really rough start. I was young, and I just remember that I was supposed to be at the park at one o’clock to meet with Jim Frey (hitting coach), and I didn’t show up until between two and three. Frey came up to me and got in my face. He just looked at me and said, “I’m never going to wait for you again. If you want to be great at playing this game, you have all the tools, kid; you need to be at this ballpark early every day.”

From that day forward, I was there every day. He taught me a valuable lesson: it doesn’t matter what kind of talent you have, it’s the kind of work that you put in that will eventually take you to the next level to be great. He told me you can have the talent, but if you don’t work on things that you’re weak at, you’re never going to improve yourself. And I did. I improved and I climbed the ladder.

He pushed me that year, and I climbed the ladder. I just came into my own. I went on to win Rookie of the Year. I always say I won Rookie of the Year because Jim Frey got in my face and made me understand the importance of being here. Not just showing up to the ballpark to say, okay, I want to play, but being there and doing things that’s going to get you to the next level.

MMO: When did you start to utilize the leg kick in your swing?

Strawberry: I didn’t really have that coming out of high school or the minor leagues. I think I started really developing that once I got to the big leagues. I changed that, and I think a lot of people thought, well, I don’t think he’s going to be able to hit like that to be successful at the major league level. I just crafted that inside of me, and I realized that this is what I want to be.

You have to figure out what kind of player you want to be. Do you just want to be all or nothing? I got a chance to watch players and play with guys like Dave Kingman and watch him hit and see how he was; it was all or nothing. Do you want to be that type of player, or do you want to be a player that can use your ability to use the whole field and run the bases? I wanted to run the bases, I wanted to steal, I wanted to play the field. I wanted to be a complete player.

I just didn’t want to be a player where it was all or nothing, because it could’ve easily turned that way. I worked so hard not to do that. Once I got to the point with a high leg kick and got comfortable with it, I knew who I was then. I knew how to do it well.

MMO: And how did utilizing the leg kick aid in your performance at the plate?

Strawberry: I called it a lift up and separate. Just lift up and keep my balance. Once I wanted to explode on the pitch, then I would separate. I would put it forward and then put it down. I wouldn’t go so far out because it would keep me in a place where I had great balance, and I wouldn’t fall off the ball a lot.

MMO: Throughout your career, did you incorporate any specific hitting drills into your routine? When I interviewed Gregg Jefferies for Metsmerized, he spoke about a plethora of drills his dad taught him at a young age.

Strawberry: No, no. I don’t think I wanted to clog my brain with all kinds of craziness. When you get to the big leagues, you have to find out what kind of player you are. Eventually, what’s going to happen is, it’s going to catch up with you. Pitchers are going to catch up with you, and they’re going to know how to pitch you. They’re going to find your weaknesses. You have to be able to make those types of adjustments for yourself.

I realized, more than anything, that it was important to stay with who I was. When I would struggle, I would never go to the ballpark and go into BP trying to hit the ball out of the park. It’s only five o’clock, they don’t count. [Laughs.] I would work from the left field line to over the shortstop, and then I would go back into maybe hitting the ball to right-center and right field line. You kind of worked all the way around. I got a feel for what the game is going to be like because somebody is going to pitch me out there, and when I see that pitch, I can identify that pitch because I’ve worked on it.

I used to go down to the cage with Bill Robinson, and he used to work me. My favorite thing with Bill Robinson was soft toss. He didn’t get me in a place where he wanted me, and to swing just to be swinging. He wanted me to stay on the baseball, and he wanted to soft-toss it and wanted me to hit it just into that left field screen. He’d tell me, “Remember, stay on the baseball and hit it to left-center. When you do that, it’s going to allow you to stay on the baseball, and when the pitcher comes in, it’ll be an automatic turn.”

Those are the things that I learned as time went by, and I became better at what I was doing.

MMO: When you debuted with the Mets in 1983, were there certain players that took you under their wing?

Strawberry: Not really. It was more of a veteran-type of team. I think it was a team where a lot of players were on their way out instead of in. The guys that really helped me a lot at that time were Mookie Wilson and Hubie Brooks.

All of the other guys were good to me. A lot of them were very nice and knew that I was on the scene for real. I think when they saw me in spring training and saw me play in some of the A games and hit a couple of bombs off some good major league pitchers, they knew. They were like, “Man, this doesn’t even faze the kid.” I got close to Ed Lynch, but Hubie and Mookie were really the guys who encouraged me.

And then when Keith [Hernandez] came over, he had a great impact on my career. He had a great impact on me going forward because I learned a lot from him.

MMO: At what point did you start to notice that the organization was changing, and for the better?

Strawberry: I realized that when we acquired Keith. I didn’t know if he was going to stay, but once I realized what kind of player he was going to be able to bring to the table, it was going to help all of us.

I knew the players we had in our farm system. I knew there was a bunch of them behind me that were very talented, like Doc [Gooden] and Lenny [Dykstra]. The Mets organization was stacked with players. We had tons of players who could play.

I think they realized that we had some pretty good players, and then we had some pretty good pitching. We traded for Ronnie [Darling] and we got Sid [Fernandez]. You saw them and knew the organization was starting to make a move. Frank Cashen was a wizard at what he was doing.

MMO: Would you characterize leaving the Mets to sign with Los Angeles Dodgers following the 1990 season, as your biggest regret of your baseball career?

Strawberry: Most likely. It had nothing to do with L.A.; it had to do with me being accustomed to playing at Shea Stadium in New York City, and being used to the atmosphere and what the fans were like. The fans push you in New York, and they boo you when you suck. I loved that.

It was a challenge for me because they were like, “You suck,” and I’m just like, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I’m a good ballplayer, and I shouldn’t be playing this bad.’ I was never someone who took that personally. I was always taking that as you can play better than this.

They were right about that, and that’s what I loved about the push. Either you’re going to deal with it or they’re going to run you out of town. They have the right to let you know that you suck. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re getting paid a lot, and they come to the ballpark every night to see you play, and they want to see you perform. That’s the thing I loved about them. They don’t want to hear excuses about having a sore this or that.

MMO: I recently watched the Netflix documentary about Mike Veeck called ‘The Saint of Second Chances.’ Part of the documentary details your time with the Saint Paul Saints in 1996. In it, you say that your time with the Saints reignited your love for the game. Can you talk about that?

Strawberry: It brought a lot of joy. I think the way the people in Saint Paul were in general, they just came out to the ballpark and had fun and cheered for you. I got on the baseball field, and I didn’t even know if I wanted to play again. But once I got on that field and started playing, it became fun again.

I started to see the game for what it really was from when I first started, and I had joy in it. It just brought a lot of joy to me to be able to be down there playing like that. I didn’t know if I would ever make it back [to the majors]. I just knew if I was going to stay, I was just going to make it my last run to prove to myself how good I was at this game and how good the game had been for me.

MMO: In your prime, you had a combination of power and speed that was pretty special. Only two players in Major League Baseball history have hit 275+ home runs and swiped 200+ bags in their first nine seasons: yourself and Mike Trout. What memories do you have about those two tools?

Strawberry: It was just something I took a lot of pride in. It was something that I worked at because becoming a base stealer means you have to work at that. That just doesn’t happen overnight.

You have to learn how to get real good jumps, run on certain pitches and be able to pick your spots. That takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of wear and tear on your body because, eventually, your body starts to break down and you start to have injuries as you get older, at 28-29, because you ran so much earlier. That’s what it was for me, and I’m quite sure that’s what it is for Trout. He probably ran a lot, and that’s probably why he’s having so many different injuries.

The wear and tear on your body is hard. If you’re just a base stealer, that’s one thing. But if you’re that and a home run hitter, that’s a different thing because that’s very hard to do. It’s not easy to keep that pace up. It’s a very challenging pace to keep up.

MMO: You mentioned putting a lot of work into becoming a great base stealer. Can you expand on that?

Strawberry: I just picked my spots and realized what kind of pitchers were on the mound. Does he have a good move? Who’s behind the plate? Is he quick enough? Getting jumps were important, and you had to learn how to do that.

MMO: The 2016 ESPN “30 for 30” about yourself and Doc Gooden was extraordinary to watch. Was it enjoyable getting to see Doc in person, and relive all the good and bad of that time?

Strawberry: It was. It was great for me to be able to walk down that line again and look back and realize we were pretty good. I really wasn’t thinking about baseball a lot, and I don’t that much today. When I get a chance to revisit that and look back on it, I’m like, Wow, we were actually pretty good! 

You don’t ever think about it when you’re playing. And every year you go out there and you’re determined to be successful and win. When I got a chance to reflect back on that, I could see the good of us, and then I could see the fall of us. The lifestyle comes with it too, the expectations and playing in New York and all the temptations. That’s real life, and it’s there; you can’t deny it.

We were very young. I was very young! When we won in 1986, I was 24, and we never won again. We came close in ’88 and blew that and lost to the Dodgers. The window of time for winning is not forever. I think players sometimes think that we can keep doing this and we’re going to win. That’s just not the case. That’s not how it happens, because it’s so hard. When I look back on that “30 for 30,” it was really touching to me to see where I was when I started, what happened and where I ended up at.

MMO: Can you talk about when you found out that the Mets were retiring your No. 18 in a ceremony next season? What were your initial reactions to that news?

Strawberry: I was overjoyed when I got the call from Steve [Cohen] that this was happening for me. After all these years playing so hard and spending eight seasons there, and becoming the player I was, and the things I accomplished in that short period of time, I’m grateful for that. It’s such a big honor.

I was in tears – tears of joy – for being recognized. Not that I needed recognition for what I did in New York, but being recognized for that part of my career. When I look back on that, I was the first piece of what the organization was able to do. I came up in ’83, Keith came over, Doc, [Gary] Carter, and then we came on. More and more pieces came together, and we were all a big part of that.

You can’t take that away. Seven straight All-Star Games, Rookie of the Year, 30-30 and leading the league in homers in ’88. I just think, Man, I did some pretty good things over in Queens. Sometimes you never realize that because you don’t look back on that a lot. I didn’t. When I had the chance to look back on that, I thought to myself, This was well done. I’m really grateful for the fact that I’ll be able to be celebrated in front of all the wonderful Mets fans that had the chance to see me over the years.

MMO: What are your thoughts on Steve Cohen as an owner?

Jun 28, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Strawberry: I think Steve Cohen is a phenomenal person. I think he cares, and he wants to win. I think it’s about getting the right chemistry and getting the right baseball people for him for development and the minor league system.

I spoke to him a few times and said, ‘You’ve got to get younger. You’ve got to get athletes. Get some guys that can do it all together: run, steal bases, go first to third.’

You need those kinds of players on your team. You need the Lenny Dykstra’s and Wally Backman’s on your team. Those are the players that will help you get to the next level because that’s what helped us go to the next level. We had the big boys, but if you didn’t have the little guys, it doesn’t do us any good. They were always on base and giving us an opportunity to drive them in.

MMO: I know you’ve been quite busy over the last decade-plus with your ministry and other ventures. Can you talk about what you’ve been up to over that time?

Strawberry: I’ve been involved in ministry for a while now, it’s turned out to be my life. I use my life experiences and am able to go back and help others. I go to maximum-security prisons and speak to the inmates there who will probably never see the streets again. Something’s happened in their life, just like stuff happens in all our lives, they need to know that people like me and all the people who are in ministry really care about them.

You never forget about people. I didn’t want anyone to forget about me, and they didn’t. I had people who helped me. I learned that lesson when I got well, and completely well, not straddling the fence and just saying I’m well.

Putting on a uniform made me a baseball player. I didn’t become a man until I stepped out and found my faith, and started living according to biblical principles. And my life changed forever. Now I know the importance of what it is to help somebody else. That’s probably more satisfying to me than anything I’ve ever accomplished.

MMO: Do you travel all across the country?

Strawberry: Yeah, I travel around 260 to 270 times a year to all kinds of churches and events.

I speak for addiction, I’m actually speaking at an event tonight in Orlando. It’s an organization called Teen Challenge, it’s for people who have addiction problems. It’s a faith-based program to help them understand that they need a spiritual awakening in their life to become a different person. To be able to see clear and understand that you can go on with life even though you have fallen short and had some cracks. You can get up and get yourself together.

I became an evangelist after many years of struggle in my life. Playing Major League Baseball and having success and struggles, through drug addiction, prison and cancer twice. Now, I’m a traveling evangelist standing in pulpits preaching over 260 times a year and bringing hope.

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Bud Harrelson, Ed Kranepool.

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 impact. The Mets of the late 1960s and early 70s were heavily dependent on superb pitching and solid defense. For where he played in the field, Harrelson was a valuable component of the team’s mindset.

And if you saw his 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame standing at shortstop, you might not immediately think of toughness. But that’s what Harrelson brought on a daily basis. He had to earn everything—and fight for it (literally) when needed. By the time his time in a Mets uniform was finished more than 25 years after it started, he’d have two rings and been a part of the most successful teams in franchise history.

While Harrelson’s limitations at the plate were undeniable—a 16-year career batting average of .236 with seven home runs—his importance as a fielder was tremendous. The glue that kept the Mets’ infield together and the glove his pitchers could trust, Bud finished with a lifetime fielding percentage of .969.

As Tom Seaver once said, “Having him playing at shortstop every day is like having a top-notch pitcher. It keeps you out of a losing streak.”

Harrelson’s outstanding glove work and significance to a team built on pitching and run prevention were gaining attention as the Mets rose out of the pits and into prominence. In 1970, he set a then-major-league record of 54 consecutive errorless games at shortstop—the same year as his first All-Star selection. He’d make the Midsummer Classic again as a starter in 1971 and ended the year with a Gold Glove award.

But it wouldn’t be long before Harrelson was finding it difficult to withstand the rigors of a full season. He missed 300 games over the next six years due to damaged hands, sternum, back, and knees. He never played in more than 118 games and just once in that span did the Mets return to the playoffs, which also happened to be the year his feistiness and unwillingness to back down gained notoriety.

Harrelson was swept up in the tidal wave of injuries that threatened to cast the Mets’ 1973 season adrift. His presence—or lack thereof—in commanding the infield was noticeably felt. During two separate stints on the disabled list, the Mets were 23-36. With Harrelson, they were 59-43. Luckily for New York, he was there when it mattered, and so were most other key contributors. Propelled again by great pitching and sturdy defense, the Mets won 19 of 27 in September and took the NL East despite an 82-79 record.

Held hitless in the NLCS opener with the Reds, Harrelson produced a single and an RBI in a 5–0 win that evened the series. That was more than could be said for Cincinnati’s entire Game 2 output. He chided afterward that Reds hitters more resembled him than the Big Red Machine. And that was the impetus for what would transpire in the fifth inning of Game 3.

The Reds sought to get even in Game 3, and Rose was set to carry out that vengeance when he slid hard into Harrelson covering second base on an inning-ending double play. Bud instantly objected to the malice. Rose shoved. Harrelson shoved back. It was on from there. Both teams hustled to the scene. A few punches were thrown. Some uniforms were dirtied. Several feelings were hurt. But nobody was ejected.

The closest either came to an early departure was when the Shea crowd pelted Rose with litter as he took the field in the inning following the fight. The insanity in the stands subsided enough for the continuation of the game—a 9–2 Mets win that put New York one victory from the pennant.

Rose’s 12th-inning homer the next day extended the series to its limit, but the Mets prevailed—meaning a meeting with the defending champion Oakland A’s. It offered Harrelson another chance to put his feisty demeanor on full display.

Harrelson prepared to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th of Game 2 on a Félix Millán fly ball to left field. As he approached home plate, he resisted the slide and evaded the tag of catcher Ray Fosse.

Umpire Augie Donatelli thought otherwise, prompting Harrelson and a cavalry of Mets to angrily dispute it. As instant replay showed they had every right to vent their frustration, and since this was 1973 and not 2023, the Mets could only stew in their disdain—though not for long.

Harrelson began the top of the 12th with a double—his third hit in six at-bats—moved to third on Tug McGraw’s bunt single, and scored on Willie Mays’s single. The Mets added three more to prevail in what was, at the time, the longest game in World Series history.

After the series loss to Oakland, it would be 13 years before the Mets made another playoff trip. Bud would be there for that one too, serving in a much different role as third-base coach. He’d eventually become the bench coach and manager by 1990.

Harrelson remains on the team’s top-10 list in games played, at-bats, hits, triples, and stolen bases. He succeded in his many battles on the field. His current opponent, Alzheimer’s disease which was diagnosed in 2016, is as difficult as they come. But as we’ve learned for more than 50 years, Bud Harrelson doesn’t go down without a fight.

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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 theme.

“We enjoy a fight,” manager Davey Johnson said. “If that’s what it takes, we’ll fight every time.”

The Mets didn’t fight all the time, but it seemed like it. They engaged in multiple on-field skirmishes (and a notable one off-the-field in Houston). But none was wilder than the one on a July evening in Cincinnati. And, as it turned out, no regular-season was crazier, either. Here’s a rundown of the zaniness:

• Reds right fielder Dave Parker was a great hitter and sported a cannon for an arm. But without his costly miscue with two outs in the ninth, there would have been little drama to speak of. His dropped fly ball off the bat of Keith Hernandez spoiled the save chances of future Met John Franco.
• Reds player/manager Pete Rose sends up a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the tenth: himself. Rose tallies one of the final hits of his career. Eric Davis comes into pinch-run for Pete and is in for quite the adventure on the basepaths.
• Shortly after comes the main event, which goes on for about 16 minutes (longer than many title bouts actually). Davis found out the hard way that messing with a former Golden Gloves boxer like Ray Knight was a bad strategy. Those engaging with Kevin Mitchell were in for a rude awakening, too.

• The ejections of Knight, Mitchell, and (earlier) Darryl Strawberry because of a disputed strike call in the sixth left Davey Johnson with too few position players. Gary Carter moved from catcher to third base, Ed Hearn went in behind the plate, and relief pitchers Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco were shuttled between the mound and right field, depending on who was batting.
• Hernandez showed his defensive brilliance and on-field intelligence in the 12th. With runners on first and second, in a clear bunting situation, he charges toward the plate as an inexperienced pitcher attempts to lay down a sacrifice.

• The tie is finally broken thanks to Howard Johnson in the top of the 14th with a three-run homer to right field.
• McDowell is summoned from the outfield to get the save, which he does—putting a punctuation mark on this bizarre evening.

The Mets won eight of their 12 matches, but this felt like five wins in one.

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Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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 remains the most watched of all the major sports, but the gap continues to shrink. The 2022 All-Star game was the first to ever draw fewer than eight million viewers.

How much has the television audience shrunk? In the 1990s, the summer showcase of baseball’s best talent routinely banked an audience of over 20 million. The event has not attracted more than 12 million viewers since 2010.

There are many reasons why the All-Star game’s popularity has dropped, with inter-league play probably the most prominent. There simply isn’t the novelty nor intrigue of seeing players from the “other league”. In the 1960s and 1970s, the All-Star game was highly competitive, symbolized by Pete Rose‘s crash into Ray Fosse in the 1970 game that resulted in a walk-off National League win. It’s hard to imagine something like that happening in current times.

The low ratings were not for lack of trying by Fox, as the network tried some new things to bring the intricacies of the game closer to the fans. Consider the in-game conversation between John Smoltz in the booth and Alex Manoah of the Blue Jays who was pitching for the American League. Ken Rosenthal captured some key moments in an article in The Athletic.

“Make this slider look like a strike on the outside corner and make it disappear off the corner,” Smoltz said.

Manoah wasn’t so sure.

“I’m thinking the slider, too, but I think if I execute a good heater up …” Manoah said, rubbing the ball as he pondered his next move. “He has seen the sinker twice. Something that stays true (straight) might throw him off a little bit.”

Later in the game, Fox aired a live conversation between Nestor Cortes of the Yankees, and his teammate and ASG catcher Jose Trevino. Here is some of the dialogue from Rosenthal’s article, as Cortes and Trevino decided on their approach.

“What are you thinking?” Trevino said to Cortes before a 2-1 pitch to the Braves’ Austin Riley.

“Cutter, back door,” Cortes said.

“Get it there,” Trevino replied.

To some, the interactivity of the broadcast trivialized the game, making it seem like a Sunday morning softball game. To others, the eavesdropping on player conversations helped further an understanding of the game, and the thought processes the players go through. Braves’ pitcher Colin McHugh was in the latter camp. From Rosenthal’s article:

After viewing the sixth inning of the All-Star Game, Braves reliever Collin McHugh tweeted, “That was the single best inning of baseball I’ve ever watched. Listening to Nestor and Jose do that in real time was truly amazing.”

There was also “ump cam” during the game, attached to home plate umpire Bill Miller‘s mask. The innovations may not have positively impacted viewership, but give Fox credit for trying to infuse intrigue into an event that has lost much of its luster.

As an older fan, I prefer the days of the All-Star game being played seriously (not the home field advantage years). I miss when the two leagues wanted to beat each other. I loved the 1994 game when Fred McGriff dramatically tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a home run off Lee Smith of the Orioles.

Those days are over. The All-Star game is no longer the attraction it once was. Maybe interactive in-game conversations will help bring the game’s strategy closer to the fans, and subsequently, increase interest. Maybe those innovations will not. Time will tell.

If nothing else, the 2022 All-Star game broadcast was unique, if not widely watched.

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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 the mound wearing orange and blue. Seaver declined the customary ride from the bullpen in the cart at the beginning of the game, instead walking down the right field line toward the home dugout to a deafening roar from the crowd.

When the game began, Seaver started his second tour of Mets duty by striking out Pete Rose. Tom would go on to toss six shutout innings, allowing three hits, walking one, and striking out five. Doug Sisk pitched the final three innings for the save.

Seaver, a native of Fresno, California, was 38 years old during the 1983 season. That year, on a Mets team that finished 68-94, he posted a 9-14 record with a 3.55 ERA. He pitched 231 innings, striking out 135 hitters while walking 86.

Seaver is the most accomplished player ever to play for the Mets. Here are some of his career achievements:

Personal Statistics

12-time all star

1967 NL Rookie of the Year

3 Cy Young Awards (1969, 1973, 1975)

Career WAR of 109.9

3 NL ERA titles (1970, 1971, 1973)

311 career wins

3 time leader in NL in WHIP (1971, 1973, 1977)

6 time leader in NL K/9 (1970, 1971, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1976)

5 time leader in NL in Strikeouts (1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976)

2 time leader in NL in shutouts (1977, 1979)

4 time leader in NL in FIP (1971, 1973, 1975, 1976)

MLB Ranking in Key Statistics

Wins- 18th with 311

Strikeouts- 6th with 3640

Innings pitched- 17th with 4782.2

WHIP- 23rd with 1.12

Opponent BA- 13th with .226

Ranking Among Mets Pitchers

Wins- 1st with 198

Innings pitched- 1st with 3045.2

Strikeouts- 1st with 2,541

Games started- 1st with 395

Complete games- 1st with 171

Shutouts- 1st with 44

Pitcher bWAR- 1st with 76.1

Although Seaver’s status as “The Franchise” was never questioned, he had a much more uncomfortable relationship with the Mets’ organization than one would expect.

In 1977, Seaver wanted to renegotiate his salary to have it more closely align with the higher salaries pitchers were earning through the newly-established free agency system. He had a difference of opinion on the matter with Mets Chairman of the Board M. Donald Grant, which resulted in Seaver’s being traded to the Reds.

After being reacquired from Cincinnati for the 1983 season, Seaver was left unprotected in a free agency compensation draft after the season. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, and won his 300th game in a White Sox uniform at Yankee Stadium.

After he retired, Seaver’s relationship with the Mets remained cool. His number was retired in 1988, but his presence in Queens was scarce. He took a broadcasting job with the Yankees in 1989, and worked in their booth through the 1993 season. After a hiatus from broadcasting, Seaver and the Mets made amends when the star pitcher agreed to work for the Mets on WPIX telecasts from 1999-2005.

George Thomas Seaver was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1992 with a then-record 98.84% of the votes. He attended the closing ceremonies at Shea Stadium in 2008 and the opening festivities at Citi Field in 2009. The 2013 All Star Game, played at Citi Field, was dedicated to the Mets icon. Citi Field now stands on 41 Seaver Way, and on Opening Day 2022, a statue of “The Franchise” will finally be unveiled at the ballpark.

Seaver had a strong interest in wine, and had a vineyard in California that famously produced two Cabernet Sauvignons, “Nancy’s Fancy” (named after his wife) and “GTS”. The Mets’ legend passed away on August 31, 2020 from dementia and complications of COVID-19. He was 75 years old at the time of his passing.

It’s nice to see the Mets embracing their history more earnestly under new owner, Steve Cohen. The statue unveiling on April 15 will be a significant moment for the franchise, as it honors its “Franchise”, number 41, Tom Seaver.

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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 — one which was preceded with a four-year stint in New York. As a regular in right field, Staub helped the Mets reach the World Series in 1973 and set a club record with 105 RBIs in 1975. 

He was dealt away in a dubious deal that winter with Detroit involving Mickey Lolich before returning to Queens prior to the 1981 campaign — where he would stay for his final five seasons and further stamp his legacy as a New York legend. 

Rusty had lost a step, but not his acuity at the plate. The Mets made him their primary pinch hitter — and he soon became the game’s best. 

The peak of his prowess came in 1983. Beginning June 11 and ending fifteen days and eight pinch-hit appearances later, the 39-year-old was immaculate. On June 26, in the opener of a home doubleheader with the Philadelphia Phillies, Staub had an opportunity to make his string of successful pinch-hitting chances historic. 

Philadelphia was leading 8-4 in the ninth, making the outcome pretty much decided. But Rusty still had something at stake. A hit would tie him with Dave Philley for the most consecutive pinch hits in a single season (Philley had nine straight over two seasons from 1958-59). 

On Ron Reed’s second pitch, Staub made it happen. A clean single into right-center field incited a standing ovation from the Shea Stadium crowd. Rusty wasn’t just adored by fans, he was respected by his peers. First baseman Pete Rose offered his congratulations and even Reed came over to hand him the ball. 

“Anybody who gets eight straight pinch hits has got to be happy,” Staub said after the game, per the New York Times. “But, like I’ve said before during this streak, it isn’t something that’s going to make me or break me. I’ve just gone up there, been aggressive, and tried to be as good a hitter as I can possibly be.”

Staub’s record-setting pinch-hit accomplishments didn’t end on that day. He would tie another major league mark with 25 pinch-hit RBIs and established his own record with 81 plate appearances off the bench, during a season in which he led the sport with 23 pinch hits. By the time he retired after 1985, Staub compiled 2,716 hits — 94 of them in those late-inning scenarios for which he became so noted. 

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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 Jones, Tommie Agee, Ron Swoboda, and Jerry Grote were already gone, and the Mets were in the beginning phase of a long rebuild that would last until the 1984 season. Harrelson was three months shy of 34 years old at the time of the trade.

The Niles, California native was born on D-Day (June 6, 1944), and spent his youth in California, attending college at San Francisco State University. “Buddy” was drafted by the Mets in June of 1963, and made his debut in Queens in 1965, appearing in 18 games.

The defensive whiz played 13 seasons for the Mets, slashing .234/.324/.287, and stealing 118 bases. Harrelson was known for his outstanding glove, winning the National League’s Gold Glove award in 1971, a year in which he led NL shortstops with a defensive bWAR of 3.1.

Harrelson was a two-time All-Star, representing the National League in both 1970 and 1971. His best overall season using bWAR was 1971, when he posted a 4.6 mark, and posted a .252 BA, .319 OBP, and stole 28 bases.

Harrelson stood just five feet, eleven inches tall, but had the heart of a lion, and a bit of big mouth to go with it. Many associate Buddy with the fight with Pete Rose in the 1973 NLCS.

That incident was precipitated by Rose’s slide into second base, but also by Harrelson’s remarks after Game 2 of the series, when Jon Matlack shut the Reds out. Harrelson said Matlack made the Big Red Machine look like him at the plate, which rattled the Reds’ cages.

One of my favorite Harrelson moments comes from the 1973 World Series, when he was “thrown out” at the plate in extra innings of game two. You can make your own call. The Mets won the game anyway.

During the argument, Bud was ejected, and then yelled to the umpire, ‘You can’t throw me out because of your incompetence!” That’s classic Bud Harrelson.

Bud spent two years in Philadelphia, and was part of a division championship team in 1978. He finished his career in 1980 with the Texas Rangers.

After his career, Harrelson became a Mets coach in 1985, and was coaching third base when the Mets won the 1986 World Series. He became Mets manager in 1990 when Davey Johnson was fired during the season, and managed the team until the last week of the 1991 season when he was relived of his duties.

Harrelson resides on Long Island, and took an ownership share with the Long Island Ducks in 2000. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.

Here’s a tip of the cap to Bud Harrelson, an iconic Mets shortstop who was on the field of play for both of the team’s championships. We wish him him well in his battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

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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 at Sun Trust Park. Niekro also pitched for the Yankees, Indians, and Blue Jays before retiring in 1987.

Niekro had a career record of 318-274, to go with 3342 strikeouts in 5404 innings pitched. In 1979, he had a very unique season, in which he won 21 games (which led the National League) while losing 20 (which also led the National League). He also won 20 games in 1974, and also lost 20 games in 1977.

Niekro’s brother, Joe Niekro, pitched 22 seasons in the major leagues, posting a career record of 221-204. Joe Niekro passed away in 2006.

Phil Niekro was a five-time all star, achieving the honor in 1969, 1975, 1978, 1982, and 1984. He led National League pitchers in bWAR in 1978 (10.0) and 1979 (7.4).

As a knuckleballer, Niekro inspired quite a bit of reaction among opposing hitters. Pete Rose once said, “I work on fixing my swing for three weeks, and Phil messes it up in one night”. Bob Uecker, who caught Niekro with the Braves, added, “Niekro struck out a hitter once and I never touched the ball. It hit me in the shinguard, bounced out to Clete Boyer at third base and he threw out the runner at first. Talk about a weird assist: 2-5-3 on a strikeout.”

Knuckleball pitchers tend to be able to throw a significant number of innings, because of the relatively low stress the pitch has on the arm. Niekro was no exception to this, leading the National League in complete games in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1979.

With “Knucksie’s” passing, baseball has lost another successful and colorful player. It was a treat to watch Niekro pitch, as the knuckleball would seemingly float to the plate, and make the game’s best hitters look befuddled.

As Mets fans, we had the opportunity to watch R.A. Dickey pitch in the early 2010s, and win a Cy Young  award as a knuckleballer. Dickey threw the pitch significantly harder than did Niekro, which made Niekro all the more interesting to watch, to see how a pitch coming in at 70 mph could stymie the most potent bats of the National League.

Rest In Peace, Phil Niekro.

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