Bud Harrelson made his debut with the New York major league team in 1965. He was a small, wiry shortstop who became the key defensive player for over a decade. Though he often joked about his limited hitting ability, Harrelson was a hardworking and reliable presence for the franchise during its most celebrated victories.
Harrelson had his peak seasons in 1970 and 1971, earning consecutive All-Star titles primarily for his exceptional defense. In 1971, he demonstrated remarkable efficiency, leading Major League fielders in Defensive bWAR and winning the National League Gold Glove Award. As a consistent professional, he often made challenging plays look effortless, notably setting a franchise record by playing 54 straight error-free games at shortstop.
Harrelson, with a .234 batting average as a Met, was a high-energy spark plug at the bottom of the order. He was vital to the 1969 "Miracle Mets," helping ignite their summer run and anchoring the infield during their World Series victory over Baltimore. He demonstrated grit again in the 1973 pennant race, famously engaging in a bench-clearing NLCS brawl with Pete Rose for refusing to back down. His presence drove wins; in 1973, the Mets went 59-43 with him on the field, showing his high-leverage impact.
His run with the Mets closed just before the 1978 season when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. In New York, Harrelson had 1,029 hits and was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1986. Notably, he was New York’s third-base coach that year, when they won their third World Series Championship.
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