Why Buddy Harrelson is so popular
If you’ve ever wondered why Buddy Harrelson is one of the most popular Mets in history, it’s because anyone who has slugged Pete Rose is thumbs-up in most people’s book. Since it happened in Game Three of the 1973 NLCS, this is probably the most famous of all Met brawls.
After the Game Two victory over the Reds (Mets pitching had thus far held the Big Red Machine to two runs in 18 innings) Buddy quipped that the Reds had hit more like him than their fearsome reputation. Rose took exception to that. Or maybe he was angry that Jerry Koosman had, as Jerry later admitted, thrown four fastballs at Rose during his previous at-bat. (The umpires didn’t find this anything out of the ordinary in those savage, uncivilized times.)
So on a double-play ball, Rose, having nothing to lose with a fifth-inning 9-2 deficit and wanting to light a spark under his team, did a “message” slide into little Buddy Harrelson, upending him. Like most small guys, Buddy had a temper, and he and Pete started throwing fists. The dugouts emptied, but the fight petered out by the time the bullpens ran in from beyond the fences. (The Mets bullpen led by, no surprise, Tug McGraw.)
Decidedly disappointed he missed out on the fun, the Reds' Pedro Borbon blind-sided Bob Apodaca. After that ruckus died down, Borbon, who had lost his cap like most other players, accidentally picked up and put on a Mets cap. To make it even better for the crowd, after being told what he was wearing, he took a bite out of the cap before throwing it on the ground. (If anyone reading this owns the 1973 World Series tape, please let me know if this is shown. If so, I’m buying it.)
As we know from watching our modern brand of baseball, all participants should have been thrown out of the game and sent to anger management seminars. But umpires back then were a savage breed, and they let all involved stay in the game. This allowed the bottle throwers at Shea to practice their aim, using Rose’s body in left field as a target -- a whiskey bottle barely missed braining him.
Sparky Anderson, realizing that Rose could get more than a little hurt if the next bottle found its range, pulled his team off the field. Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub, and Willie Mays had to walk into left field and explain to the crowd that their behavior could cause a Mets forfeit. (Arguing that they could seriously injury Rose wouldn’t have worked - sad but true.) The game got rolling again after their plea cooled the crowd.
Rose, in yet another example of what a bunch of savages ran baseball back than, not only was allowed to play the next day (hitting an extra-inning game winning home run), he did not have to attend any anger management seminars. Not one.
Re: Why Buddy Harrelson is so popular well imagine if that had started today.... with all these guys who are suposedly on Steroids & stuff...... but its better now that there is SOME Type of order here.......
Re: Why Buddy Harrelson is so popular
that's the game i wanted to go to! so you can help start trouble. you start trouble wherever you're sitting. aim for the bad tempered guys like mo. and then make fun of robbie's rookie card. that'll piss him off.
Re: Why Buddy Harrelson is so popular
The way I am they'll want to fight me.
The game that would be perfect for a brawl would be tonight's. The Mets and Fish have been having some nice beanball battles of late. I hope that Piazza hits a HR and they hit Mo right after it. That's what we need.
Re: Why Buddy Harrelson is so popular
oh and kevin, i don't think i can look like a 12 year old. but it would be nice to have that bobblehead... maybe i'll bring my lil bro....
who would fight for him then?
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