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Turning Two: My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets
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.”
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.”
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2012
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 7, 2012
Good baseball book. He talks about the 69 met's which he play for and then the 86 met's which he was a coach. Overall good boook.
May 28, 2013
Probably need to love baseball in order to read this book. Love Buddy as he lives in my neighborhood and cares so much about our community, but this was a lot of baseball (what did I expect??)
April 20, 2018
I've been a casual Mets fan for many years, but I had never really taken the time to explore the organization's past (other than, of course, loving the fact that they won a World Series in '86—my birth year).
Turning Two is written by one of the all-time greatest Mets, Bud Harrelson. He's not the greatest in terms of stats or popularity; rather, he is a figure that has been with the organization through all the highs and lows in almost every capacity: player, coach, manager, and even scout. Most famously, he was in uniform for both Mets World Series wins (shortstop for the "Miracle" Mets in '69 and third-base coach for the '86 team).
There is no doubt that Harrelson loves baseball. The book recounts less like a memoir and more like a data-driven sports news recap, sometimes to its detriment. Harrelson goes into the box scores of famous games and not-so famous games, sharing the greater context, inside stories, heartbreaks and cheers. This is a book that any Mets fan would love.
Turning Two is written by one of the all-time greatest Mets, Bud Harrelson. He's not the greatest in terms of stats or popularity; rather, he is a figure that has been with the organization through all the highs and lows in almost every capacity: player, coach, manager, and even scout. Most famously, he was in uniform for both Mets World Series wins (shortstop for the "Miracle" Mets in '69 and third-base coach for the '86 team).
There is no doubt that Harrelson loves baseball. The book recounts less like a memoir and more like a data-driven sports news recap, sometimes to its detriment. Harrelson goes into the box scores of famous games and not-so famous games, sharing the greater context, inside stories, heartbreaks and cheers. This is a book that any Mets fan would love.
February 9, 2024
This was a fun read written by a fun guy, a Mets' favorite baseball player Bud Harrelson, who didn't take himself too seriously. Bud reviews his time in baseball, covering Little League, high school, the minors, MLB as a player, then MLB as a coach and manager, and finally as a partial owner and coach of professional independent baseball on Long Island. Harrelson was involved in a number of historic baseball events, including the Amazing Mets of 1969, the 1973 World Series, the exciting 1986 World Series, and of course his famous fight with Pete Rose in the 1973 NLCS playoffs. Bud tells his story with a lot of humor which I think was a reflection of the guy. His stories took me back as a fan who watched a number of his memorable games. I really enjoyed his book.
I got to meet Bud for a 1-minute chat along the field railing at a Mets exhibition game at RFK stadium in Washington many years ago. I could tell from our conversation he had a quick wit. Sadly, Bud passed away last month from a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. RIP Bud. Thanks for the memories.
I got to meet Bud for a 1-minute chat along the field railing at a Mets exhibition game at RFK stadium in Washington many years ago. I could tell from our conversation he had a quick wit. Sadly, Bud passed away last month from a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. RIP Bud. Thanks for the memories.
January 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book very much which included all of Bud's life and playing career. He wrote in detail of the New York Mets World Series victories of 1969 as a player and 1986 as the third base coach. A definite read for any diehard Mets fan.
August 4, 2020
Fun to read especially if you are a Bud Harrelson and NY Met fan.
December 6, 2020
#3
Excellent book written by a fine shortstop and good man. Good luck to you Bud Harrelson in all that you .
God Bless
Excellent book written by a fine shortstop and good man. Good luck to you Bud Harrelson in all that you .
God Bless
January 8, 2024
As a long-time Mets fan, and lucky enough to meet Bud (my fave) twice, I very much enjoyed this book!
December 7, 2016
I think that this was an ok book and I recommend it for you you like baseball or the Mets. If you do not know nothing about baseball this is not your book. If you do know baseball this is a good book not the best but it is still worth reading. It is a pretty inspiring book for people who want to put their life in any sport. For example "I never play baseball for the money!......I have traveled around the world, played with and against some of the greatest players of all time". I like this quote because it shows that you cannot play a professional sport just for the money, you also have to be passionate about it. This book shows that you can make history if you believe you can. Overall it wasn't the best book I read this semester but it was still an inspiring book.
April 18, 2013
This is a must read if you are a Mets fan and want to read their history, or even if you love baseball history in general. If you are not into either, than this book does not have a lot to offer. As a Mets fan myself, I loved reading this book, but I wish Buddy could have gotten in to some more 'off the field' stories. I mean, he roomed with Seaver for years, there must be some good funny stories that Seaver would not mind him telling. Seems like Buddy really stuck to "what happens in the clubhouse stays in the club house."
April 1, 2016
Relive Mets history 1965-1991 with gold-glove shortstop and one-time manager Harrelson. It's a straight-ahead account, with nice recreations of the franchise's key games (thanks, no doubt, to sportswriter-aide Phil Pepe) and some light clubhouse wit. Like a textbook DP, it's routine but well-executed.
July 26, 2016
I'm not sure why Harrelson wrote this book. It doesn't cover any new ground, or provide any insights, and it's so cursory it could have been written on index cards.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews