2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s GAME USED BATS PART X

 

                     "Now Batting #3 Bud Harrelson......" Derrel Harrelson is his given name but he was better known as Bud. Now what makes this bat piece interesting its the 1st of 6 bats that are limited to a certain run this piece has only 290 pieces he also appears in the quad bat pieces with 3 of his Mets teammates(Harrelson,Ron Hunt,Tom Seaver, & Tug McGraw are the 4 on the card) as well a piece that honors the 1973 World Series (Harrelson,Reggie Jackson, Bert Campaneris, Tom Seaver) but neither of the quad pieces are a limited run. Bud was a shortstop on the 1969 Amazing Mets squad plus as I mentioned in the 1973 World Series. 

                     The road to the 1973 World Series is the reason why I believe the reason why Upper Deck included him in this set is cause of the National League Championship Series when the Mets took on the Cincinnati Reds when in Game 3 with the Mets beating the Reds 9-2 it was in the top of 5th Inning with 1 out Pete Rose on 1st base & Joe Morgan hits a slow dribbler to 1st baseman John Milner who quickly threw out Rose at 2nd then Harrelson threw back to Milner for a 3-6-3 Double Play to end the Inning. What happened next is what you see in the picture below there was a scuffle between Rose & Harrelson leading a bench clearing brawl funny thing after clearer heads prevailed neither Rose or Harrelson were ejected from the game just makes ya wonder what would happened if were to happened in the game now. My guess would be both would've been ejected & later both would have been fined or suspended for an amount of games. What do you think let me know in the comments below. 

I Bet ya Pete blames Bud for this Brawl. Meanwhile Wayne Garrett tries to break it up.

                              Bud later was a Teammate of Rose's in 1979 when Rose joined the Phillies in 1979 as Harrelson himself was traded to them in 1978 but neither gentleman discuss about the brawl. Then Bud was released days prior to the Phillies opener in 1980 during the last 8 days of Spring Training that year when their was a labor dispute but opening day wasn't effected cause the Phillies started their opening day on April 11th. Then Bud signed with the Rangers in May when Rusty Staub a former Mets Teammate sprained his thumb then the Rangers let Harrelson go at the end of the season. Bud later was coaching 3rd base during the 1986 season which plays a significant part for Bud he was the only person to wear a Mets Uniform for both World Champions titles that the Mets have won as the time of this posting. Like Rose who later managed the Reds from 1984 to 1989, Bud was named Manager of the Mets in 1990 after they fired Davey Johnson & then he himself was fired after a dismal 2nd half performance in the 1991 leading the Mets to into a new direction for the 1992 season.   

        Now if you ask me does Bud deserve to be in this position simply to say had Upper Deck decided to do eras like this Bud would have gotten my vote for the 1960s. However Bud doesn't get mine for the 70s 1 little scuffle in the playoffs so what is your take lmk until then when we talk about Carlton Fisk & just remember that Rogers Hornsby once said "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign Autographs for little kids Ain't an American, He's a Communist."

2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s GAME USED SINGLE BATS PART IX

 

                    "Now Batting #18 Bill Russell........" The player is a Dodgers favorite as well one of 2 bloggers favorite players in the 1970s that being Mr. Night Owl & Mr GCRL. Bill was the Shortstop in the famous infield of Ron Cey at 3rd, Russell at Short, Davey Lopes at 2nd, & Steve Garvey (Another member of this set) that roamed the Dodger infield from June 23rd, 1973 Until the final out of the 1981 World Series. Russell was the only one to spend his entire career in the Dodger Blue cause as we all know Lopes went to Oakland in 1982 Garvey tested free agency in 1983 to join the Padres & Cey went to the Cubs in 1983 to help a struggling 3rd baseman at the time so he could move to 2nd base that 3rd basemen was Ryne Sandberg. Russell was always one of those unsung heroes of the game he just happened to play around the same time at a position that was dominated by another member of this set Dave Conception. 

                    Now as I mentioned before Bill spent his entire career with the Dodgers after the 1986 season concluded he stayed on to become the Dodgers bench coach with Tommy LaSorda at the helm. Then when Tommy had to be forced out to leave the game in 1996 due to health issues the Dodgers called on Bill to be the interm he stayed on as Manager until June 21 1998 he was fired due to a disappointing start of the 1998 season. I am sure that Night Owl & GRCL can share their Dodger insights on why they believe Bill Russell deserves to be on this list if were up to me in my opinion he's another borderline member if ya ask me so what's your take on it yeah or nay. Next up in the line up is Bud Harrelson Until then I am reminded of what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American,He's a Communist."