Shortly after Bud Harrelson announced he had Alzheimer's several years ago, a former Mets teammate visited him at his home on Long Island.
Visitor Art Shumsky had brought a glove, and soon two members of the Mets' first World Series winning team were playing catch on Harrelson's front lawn.
“People were honking their horns as they drove by, but it was really refreshing to be playing catch,” Shumsky told the Thursday Post. “We did what we do best. We played catch.”
Harrelson, the Mets' quick-footed shortstop, died early Thursday in hospice care at the age of 79 after a long battle with an insidious illness.
Shumsky last visited Harrelson about a year ago, when his former teammate said he no longer recognized Harrelson.
Shumsky was traded to the team before the 1968 season, and the following year the Mets pulled off one of the most improbable feats in baseball history to add the adjective “miracle” to the team's identity.
The Mets rose from ninth place in the National League to first place in the National League's newly created East Division, defeating the Braves in the National League CS and the Orioles in the World Series.
“I think Buddy was a strict guy and he was a fan favorite because he wasn’t big, he wasn’t very tall, but he had a big heart and people really appreciated his efforts. And he was an important player for many years,'' Shumsky said.
“He was the glue of the infield. Jerry Groat was behind the bat, Buddy was shortstop, and they played great defense up the middle. [Al] With Weiss [Ken] 2nd place is Boswell; [Tommie] Age is in the center.
“When he got the opportunity to play first base, I knew Buddy was an artist. I never saw him make any mistakes, but I think he definitely made mistakes. I just don't remember.”
In 2017, Shumsky was working on his second book when he decided he needed an interview with Tom Seaver, who had been diagnosed with dementia.
Shumsky visited Seaver's home in Northern California with former teammates Ron Swoboda and Jerry Koosman.
A phone call was made to Harrelson to gauge his interest in visiting Seaver's home.
“At this point, Buddy was just starting to feel the effects of his illness, and Tom went with him. We didn't even know if we'd ever get a chance to see Tom because he wasn't feeling well,” Shumsky said. said. “Apparently it was. We went on a trip there and I thought it would be great for Buddy and Tom, and great therapy – they were friends on the trip and It was a great weekend for us.”
In later years, Harrelson moved into a nursing home. Mr. Seaver passed away in 2020.
“We look back on that trip as being very special to both of us,” Shumsky said.
