File Name: Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets.pdf
Size: 40.30 MB
Uploaded: 2017-05-26 03:55:45
Only one man, Bud Harrelson, can say he was in uniform for both New York Mets world championships: as the shortstop who anchored the infield of the 1969 "Miracle Mets" and then as the third-base coach for the storied 1986 team. In Turning Two, Harrelson delivers a team memoir as he takes fans through the early seasons, sudden success, lean years, and return to glory.
Born on D-day 1944, the Alameda County, California, native made his Major League debut with the Mets in 1965. At 147 pounds he was the team's Everyman---a Gold Glove, All-Star shortstop who won the hearts of fans with his sparkling defensive skills and trademark brand of gritty, scrappy baseball.
Harrelson recalls how the gentle yet firm guidance of manager Gil Hodges shaped a stunning success story in ‘69. Bud remembers the game's legends he played with and against, including Hall of Famers Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Roberto Clemente, Bob Gibson (against whom he compiled a .333 career batting average), and his idol, Willie Mays---Harrelson's teammate on the 1973 "Ya Gotta Believe" team. Harrelson writes of his famous fight with Pete Rose in the playoffs that autumn as the Mets upset the Cincinnati Reds to win the National League pennant and squared off against the mighty Oakland A's in a dramatic seven-game World Series. After retiring as a player, Bud returned to Shea Stadium as Davey Johnson's third-base coach in 1985 and waved Ray Knight home for the winning run in the unforgettable Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
Harrelson takes us in the dugout and on the field as he tells thrilling tales from his career and speaks candidly of the state of the game today. Turning Two is the ideal souvenir from the first half-century of the New York Mets---and from the pre-steroid era when players played the game the right way and did the little things to help their teams win.
Bud Harrelson in Turning Two
On Gil Hodges
"Hodges accomplished his goal with compassion and a gentle hand and attained discipline simply by being such an imposing physical specimen. He rarely lost his temper, but on the few occasions that he did, you can bet he got our attention."
On Battling at the Plate
"I have always said I'll take God to three-and-two and take my chances. I might foul two off before He gave me ball four."
On 1969
"Torre hit a smash to me at short and I'm thinking, Don't screw up the throw; don't rush it. I knew I could catch it. I just wanted to be sure to make a good, firm throw right at the chest of Al Weis at second base. I tossed it to Weis and he turned it over to Clendenon at first for the double play and we had won the Mets' first title. We were the first champions of the National League East."
On Playing with Willie Mays
"I reached up to catch the ball and as I did, I stepped on Willie's foot. Oh, no!
‘Hey, Pee Wee, what are you doing out here?' he squealed.
‘I didn't hear anything,' I said.
‘I don't call for the ball,' he said.
‘Well,' I said, ‘if you don't want to get stepped on again, you better start calling for it.'
The next time he was in center field and there was a pop fly, he called for it."
On Tom Seaver to M. Donald Grant
"Mr. Grant, you know why we're doing so well? See that little guy in the corner over there"---and he was pointing right at me---"that guy whose salary you cut? He's the reason we're winning."
On Game 6
"I leaned over to Mitchell and reminded him to be alert and be ready to take off if Stanley threw one in the dirt."
The book Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets can give more knowledge and information about everything you want. Why then must we leave the good thing like a book Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets? Several of you have a different opinion about publication. But one aim that will book can give many data for us. It is absolutely correct. Right now, try to closer with the book. Knowledge or information that you take for that, you may give for each other; you may share all of these. Book Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets has simple shape but you know: it has great and big function for you. You can search the enormous world by wide open and read a reserve. So it is very wonderful.
This Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets book is just not ordinary book, you have after that it the world is in your hands. The benefit you have by reading this book is usually information inside this guide incredible fresh, you will get info which is getting deeper you read a lot of information you will get. This kind of Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets without we know teach the one who studying it become critical in contemplating and analyzing. Don't end up being worry Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets can bring whenever you are and not make your tote space or bookshelves' grow to be full because you can have it in your lovely laptop even mobile phone. This Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets having very good arrangement in word along with layout, so you will not truly feel uninterested in reading.
This Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets are usually reliable for you who want to become a successful person, why. The main reason of this Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets can be among the great books you must have is actually giving you more than just simple examining food but feed anyone with information that maybe will shock your prior knowledge. This book is handy, you can bring it everywhere you go and whenever your conditions in e-book and printed versions. Beside that this Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets giving you an enormous of experience for example rich vocabulary, giving you test of critical thinking that we know it useful in your day activity. So , let's have it and enjoy reading.
You may spend your free time to study this book this book. This Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets is simple to bring you can read it in the playground, in the beach, train as well as soon. If you did not possess much space to bring often the printed book, you can buy the e-book. It is make you simpler to read it. You can save typically the book in your smart phone. Therefore there are a lot of benefits that you will get when you buy this book.