Bud Harrelson ✝

Harrelson anchored the Mets\' infield for thirteen seasons, including their 1969 season, and 1973 pennant-winning season. Harrelson was typical of shortstops of his era: good fielder, poor hitter. He had a lifetime batting average of .236 and hit a total of seven home runs during his fifteen-year major league career, but had a lifetime .969 fielding percentage, and won a Gold Glove at his position in 1971. He was a National League All-Star in 1970 and received Most Valuable Player Award consideration despite batting only .243 for the season.\n', ' On May 28, 1969, after a five-game losing streak that saw the Mets fall into fourth place in the newly aligned National League East, Jerry Koosman and the San Diego Padres\' Clay Kirby engaged in a pitchers\' duel at Shea Stadium. After nine scoreless innings by Kirby and ten by Koosman, the game was turned over to the bullpens for extra innings. The game finally ended after eleven innings when Harrelson hit a single to drive in Cleon Jones. This led to an eleven-game winning streak that brought them back into second place, seven games back of the Chicago Cubs. Before the streak, the Mets\' record was 18-23; they went 82-39 over the rest of the season.\n', ' On September 10 the Mets swept a double header against the Montreal Expos. Coupled with a loss by the Cubs, the Mets jumped into first place for the first time in franchise history. On September 24, the New York Mets clinched the NL East with a 6-0 victory over Steve Carlton and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets won 38 of their last 50 games, and finished the season with 100 wins against 62 losses, eight games over the second place Cubs. For his part, Harrelson batted .248 with no home runs, 24 runs batted in and 42 runs scored. He had a .969 fielding percentage in 119 games at shortstop.\n', '