On this date in 1970, Bud Harrelson hits a solo homer off Grant Jackson in the first inning of the New York Mets' 6-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium. (He also hits a triple later in the game, drives in two runs, and scores two more times.) This will be the only home run the All Star shortstop hits all season — and the only time in his 16-season major league career that he'll hit a round-tripper at Shea...
And speaking of Bud, the man himself has a new autobiography out called Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets. It was edited by Rob Kirkpatrick, the same cat whose steady editorial hand guided me in the writing of Big Hair and Plastic Grass; huge Mets fan that Rob is, I know it was a real labor of love for him. So far, I'm only up to 1968 in Bud's book; and while it's a little on the "whitebread" side, he's an affable and self-effacing narrator with more than a few amusing anecdotes up his sleeves, including Tom Seaver's love for tiki drinks. I'm looking forward to digging into the rest of it...
Not feelin the luv for Bud...I still remember the 1973 NLCS...Although the Harrelson-Rose fight is what most folks remember, I still can't foregt Gullet being beat at home (Reds got blanked) in Game 2.
Posted by: Dave Grob | 04/17/2012 at 04:37 PM