Bud Harrelson, the longtime major league shortstop who ended his career with the Texas Rangers, has passed away after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. He was 79.
Harrelson joined the organization in 1963 after playing at San Francisco State University, and by 1967 was the team’s starting shortstop. He had a run of eleven years as the Mets’ regular shortstop, including manning the position for the Miracle Mets of 1969 and for the 1973 team that fell to the Oakland A’s in the . Harrelson joined the Philadelphia Phillies for the 1978 and 1979 seasons,and spent the final season of his career with the Texas Rangers in 1980, when he appeared in 87 games for Texas.