Somerset Patriots: Bud Harrelson, Long Island Ducks co-owner, reflects on time with ‘Miracle Mets’
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – Although Bud Harrelson has signed a seemingly countless amount of autographs during the years at Bethpage Ballpark, he makes sure of two things every time he signs his name.
First and foremost, he makes sure every letter of his name is legible. But secondly, he makes it a point to write “69 Mets” after every signature, not that anyone needs a reminder of his impact on the “Miracle Mets” team that won the first World Series in franchise history.
It was 45 years ago, but Harrelson, now the co-owner and bench coach for the Long Island Ducks – who hosted the Somerset Patriots in the second game of a four-game series on Friday night – says the memories are just as fresh as they ever were.
“I’ve got nine grandkids and a great-granddaughter, and I just got called up not that long ago to the Mets,” said the 70-year-old Harrelson with a smile.
The 16-year major-league veteran shortstop, who is the only man to be in uniform for both of the Mets world championships having served as a coach on the 1986 team, is as popular as he ever was these days. After leading the inaugural Ducks squad to an 82-58 record as their manager, he transitioned to a coaching role for home games only, and throws batting practice every day.
He also serves a similar role that manager emeritus Sparky Lyle does at TD Bank Ballpark, having a very visible in-uniform presence while also visiting fans in luxury suites and signing autographs. But it’s that inscription after his name that often generates a lot of discussion about what many have described as one of the biggest upsets in World Series history.
The Gil Hodges-managed squad won 39 of their final 50 games that season to finish with a 100-62 record, swept the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series and then went on to defeat the heavily-favored and star-studded Baltimore Orioles in five games.
“In the beginnings of the Mets, when I was there in ’65 and got called up in ’66, it was, ‘Who’s going to screw up today?’ And then (in 1969), it was the opposite, ‘Who’s going to be the hero today,’ ” he recalled.
“But guys were saying we could win this (series), and Gil gave us that feeling. It was a ‘miracle.’ But we won 100 games, it wasn’t no miracle. We got the (news)papers, and you don’t win on paper, but it was ‘their left-hander is better’ and ‘their left fielder is better,’ ‘their center fielder is better.’ Well, they won the first game and then they didn’t win anymore. We got some breaks, but that’s what was happening all year.”
It would be easy to assume that the World Series win was the biggest thing Harrelson’s ever done in his during 50 years in professional baseball. But the feisty legend, who moved to nearby East Northport in 1966, was quick to point to his current surroundings.
“The biggest thing I’ve ever been a part of are the Long Island Ducks,” he said. “Nothing has ever had an impact on where I live like this has.”