Bud Harrelson: the game I'll never forget: as told to Al Doyle: former Mets shortstop recalls 1969 World Series when New York upset the Baltimore Orioles

Baseball Digest, August, 2005 by Al Doyle

THE LAST WORD: A two-time All-Star, Harrelson was the starting shortstop for the National League in the 1971 All-Star contest in Detroit.

"That was the game where Reggie Jackson almost hit the ball over the roof," he said. "You should have seen (Hank) Aaron, Willie Mays, (Roberto) Clemente, (Willie) McCovey, Joe Torre and the other National Leaguers blasting balls out of the park during batting practice. I'm surrounded by Hall of Famers. I just took my grounders and didn't even bother with getting any swings.

"Cito Gaston and Bobby Tolan were standing behind me in the dugout. They were laughing and said, 'Bud, you've got a lot of guts to go out there with them.' I said, 'Aaron can't play short.'"

SEAVER ON HARRELSON: "Simply put, we don't win two pennants without him."