By Doc McElroy

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

Derrel McKinley “Bud” Harrelson (June 6, 1944 – January 11, 2024) was an American professional baseball shortstop, coach, and manager. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers from 1965 to 1980. After his retirement as a player, he served as a coach for the World Champion 1986 Mets, and as manager of the Mets in 1990 and 1991. He was a coach and part-owner of the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Harrelson was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1986. Harrelson 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 franchise history to have appeared in four playoff seasons; that being as a player in 1969 and 1973; and as a coach in 1986 and 1988.

Fight with Pete Rose

Harrelson’s light hitting became the subject of controversy during the 1973 National League Championship Series. Mets starter Jon Matlack held the Cincinnati Reds to two hits in his 5–0 complete game victory in Game Two of the series at Riverfront Stadium. Following the game, Harrelson commented, “He made the Big Red Machine look like me hitting today.”

Inadvertently providing the Reds with bulletin board material, Harrelson was confronted by Reds second baseman Joe Morgan during pregame warm-ups for Game Three. During this confrontation, he received the warning that 1973 batting champion Pete Rose was unhappy with the quote.

In the fifth inning, Morgan hit a double play ball to Mets first baseman John Milner with Rose on first. Whether Rose slid hard into second attempting to break up the double play or if Harrelson was overly sensitive due to the warning he received was a matter of debate. Regardless, a fight between the two erupted, resulting in a bench-clearing brawl. The game was nearly called off when, after the Reds took the field, the Shea Stadium crowd threw objects from the stands at Rose, causing Reds manager Sparky Anderson to pull his team off the field until order was restored. Mets manager Yogi Berra and players Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, and Rusty Staub were actually summoned by National League President Chub Feeney out to left field to calm the fans.

Life after the NY Mets

After the Mets reacquired former #1 overall pick Tim Foli, Harrelson was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Fred Andrews and cash on March 23, 1978. Rose and Harrelson became teammates with the Phillies, but did not discuss the fight. The Phillies released Harrelson before the start of the 1980 season. Harrelson signed with the Texas Rangers in May after Rusty Staub broke a finger.

He is still to this day, one of the most beloved players in Mets history. He is among New York’s career leaders in a number of categories, including fourth in games played (1,322) and plate appearances (5,083), seventh in hits (1,029) and eighth in stolen bases (115). He was elected to the Mets Hall of Fame in 1986. He was an NL All-Star reserve in 1970 and a starter in 1971.