Bud Harrelson: All Time Mets Short Stop (Part One: 1965 - 1972)
Derrel McKinley Harrelson was born on June 6, 1944, in Niles, California, on the Oakland side of the San Francisco Bay. Historically that date was also the famous D-day invasion during World War II. His older brother couldn't pronounce his name Derrell so would call him brother, which eventually became Bud. In high school the skinny Harrelson played baseball, basketball & even football at the safety position. Growing up in Northern California, Harrelson wanted to play for the local San Francisco Giants, but they said he was too small. The 160 lb. five foot eleven switch hitter, attended San Francisco State University, getting signed by the Mets in 1963. He was a scrappy hitter, with excellent speed but absolutely no power. He was a good base runner, with speed, but it was all about his glove. Harrelson was an outstanding short stop in a period when most shorts tops did not hit well. He would stop balls on either side of him, turn double plays & cut off anything in t...