Bud Harrelson’s Mets Legacy, Bond with Tom Seaver & Brave Fight vs Alzheimers with Kim Harrelson

In this episode, Jay welcomes Kim Harrelson, the former wife of Mets great Bud Harrelson who passed away just a few months ago. Later this week at Opening Day, the Mets will be honoring Bud by not only having his family be a part of the Opening Day ceremonies but also wearing a patch to honor Bud throughout the 2024 season. Kim talks about the impact of this decision on her family, Bud’s fight against Alzheimers and his incredible friendship with “The Franchise”, Tom Seaver. #mets #newyorkmets #harrelson

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Jay haror to a very special edition of amazing conversations with Kim harlson Kim badia harlson one of those one of those is Right March 28th Mets open the season with the Brewers at City Field special day for the harlson family six of your grandkids who throughout the

First pitch and they meant to going to wear a patch to honor your late husband number three on the sleeve how emotional of a day is that going to be for you you know it’s hard to tell ahead of time but I can tell you how I felt when you let

Me know that we would be throwing out the first pitch and that the team would be wearing a patch I and I can feel the emotion now I I think it is such an honor and a privilege to do that of course we wish Bud was still here you

Know we’re missing him so much but the fact that his popularity and what he meant to the Mets and baseball in New York is being recognized in such a big way by you know the honor of throwing out the pitch and the and the team wearing the patch for the season

Is you know is very emotional for all of us Kim we’re sitting here in the Tom Siver room uh Tom buddy love Tom we’re very close what does it mean you look around and you see Tom’s pictures all over the wall here it’s amazing and when

When I pulled up in the car arrived at the Ballpark it was Tom sver way I took a picture yeah so I could send it to the kids it’s so meaningful bud and you know bud Loved Tom and they were roommates they were roommates why do you think

They hit it off so well well they were both from California and I don’t know Tom was you know outgoing and and Bud was a a little less and and you know maybe a little more shy and um I don’t know I don’t know really I I wasn’t around when they

First met but I certainly you know could see their their close-knit relationship all along you know that was I think because they came up around the same time they bonded early on and they called each other roomie yes you stayed in touch with Nancy and and the girls

Too I mean through the years we would we visited Tom and Nancy at the vineyard in California and Tom was so so proud of his Vines he carried his Clippers in his back pocket and took us out with the dogs and showed put us all around and

Yes they were you know as always quintessential hosts and lovely buddy passed away in January what have you learned about Buddy since he passed away is there anything you you something new came up that you didn’t know before I think it started with Jerry Grody in our

Backyard uh when they visited us and had dinner before the 50th anniversary and he was telling stories of how he and Bud would play catch and they would play a game where if the all landed in the targeted area there were no points but if it didn’t you know when they were

Throwing to each other they each got a point and then the other one had to get the the other one soda in the locker room or something it was like a silly game to warm up before the game that they played and it was something I

Didn’t know about bud and then when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s I actually had to keep a binder of the letters that we were getting of people’s experiences with Bud that I also never knew about the kindness and generosity that he showed other you know complete strangers and fans whether it

Was at a book signing or just a happen stance meeting and it they were so touching and those were things that you know he didn’t come home and talk about and after he died the you know the outpouring of love and condolences and memories that people have of Bud

Throughout the years just is is really overwhelming and it just confirms what you know what we knew as a family you know because we experienced his generosity and kindness so it’s in the summer of 2016 that buddy went public at a couple of places and he had the disease what

Was his M purpose in doing that and why did he go public to let people know what was going on he said he wants to he wanted people to know that he had Alzheimer’s so that if they were also suffering with the disease they they wouldn’t feel

Alone and he had he went did something the duck Stadium came in in City Field had a press conference you you knew before then right that something was going on we did we we Bud was tested a few years earlier and the tests showed negative for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

And we were you know we were so thrilled and and relieved but then his symptoms increased and when we took him back to the doctor it was then confirmed it’s you know you can’t take a blood test really um so the symptoms really confirm that he did in fact have Alzheimer’s I

Mean he really fought the good fight eight nine years I mean I mean how how did he it’s got to be for the family if few it’s got to be an unbelievable heartbreaking period you know I remember you told me you go visit him at the homes not very recognition he kept

Coming and coming and coming how how did he manage to to to get get through it all you know but he never complained he would he would get frustrated it was an adjustment when he first had to move out of his home and um into a residence for Alzheimer’s and

Dementia and and then once he was there he just he just dealt with it as best that as best he could and people would ask is he having a good day and it really wasn’t a matter of a day it was Moment by moment and he he knew kindness if you

Were kind with him and patient he would smile and be happy in that moment he could feel that so even though he may not have known who you were even you know strangers that were working with him if you showed him kindness he responded to that I remember a couple

Time went to see him you buddy used to make fun of my big head and I remember I was say bigheaded Jay and he could tell to his response up times he did SM exactly what she said that you know he he he he was small came to his lips uh

Couple stories you told me Kim about the ring the 69 but buddy how is the only player M history to have a ring from 69 and 86 the only one to play in four separate playoff series uh uh 69 73 86 and 88 um what what did what did he do

With the kids he always let the kids put it on oh wherever he went they wouldn’t even ask he would take his ring off and hand it to them and you’d see them kind of recoil a little bit like really you’re going to let me wear your ring

And that was a Big Thrill for him he was so generous in that and wanted you know the look on people’s faces I think is what he was going for and after he was diagnosed he continued to do it and after a while we had to replace the 69

Ring with the Ducks ring because it was it it was a little less valuable not sentimentally but a little less valuable and and you know you know so we weren’t sure if someone might you know inadvertently walk off with it he would forget he gave it to someone but yeah

That was a Big Thrill for him to share that he also told me when he would go into locker rooms or hospitals to visit a kid he would bring gloves for the whole family not just one for the sick youngster he he would just take care of

The whole family yeah he would he just had this way about him Jay he wasn’t afraid of you know what to say or how to to deal with people with you know illnesses or disabilities he was very very comfortable on all fronts with all human beings he got along with everyone

But he was especially um fond of and Drawn to people with with disabilities or people who were ill you know Gary con when white TV guys and howy Rose Liz buddy is one of their favorite player I think Gary said he is his favorite player and

Howy calls him every man he wasn’t 64 240 he was 510 170 Maybe what was the effect the affection for that was it because he wasn’t a big big bulky guy and he gave his hard out I mean what do you think players and everybody loved

Them so much I’m not sure you know I I was never a fan of baseball but I was a fan of Bud and it was his kindness that Drew me to him and I think for for players and and other people it was probably his approachability you know he didn’t put

Up a wall you could reach out and talk to him he he definitely had some loose boundaries but um he you know he did have some boundaries but he was also very kind and very open and very approachable for I don’t know his he was self-deprecating he was funny he was a

Regular guy he didn’t consider himself a sports hero Ron Darling told me a couple times he learned more about baseball from Buddy than any other player I mean heon used to say he just loved to go to the field he’d be there early and leave

Late when he was a coach and what do you think it about he just loved the game right I mean absolutely and when I saw that when I read that quote from Ron I was so impressed by that and you know like like I said Bud was very humble so

He didn’t spel off numbers and you know he had a great memory for games that he played in and the Nuance of the game and who scored and what was going on and my kids recall that you know that he would relate that in detail to them um when he

Was coaching Third Base I asked him once what do those signs mean he said I can’t tell you what the signs mean I said what do you think I’m going to do with that bring them to the you know the opposite team and you know sell them or something

It was very funny but he was very dedicated and very serious about his game and practice before the game and you know getting it right um Mike f president of ducks with Buddy they standed in 2000 he said that buddy was bound by random acts of kindness that he

Wouldn’t go home and say who did he kiss today for lack of a better word he would just do it if you had to guess how many hospitals do you think he saw in kids and and when since you knew them oh gosh I every single year um they they’d have

A parade you know for uh St Patty’s Day um at Christmas time they would go to the hospitals so it was the Christmas time that they would go visit hospitals and there were three or four of them in our area that had children’s Wards and you know it’s

So sad when you’re a child and have to be in the hospital during the holidays and so that was his favorite time and he did that every single year so I don’t even know what that number is Jay some of his chars with is suffk County palal

Um the make a wish and me Megan’s uh the Megan Center for Pediatric cancer right and yeah the Morgan Center Morgan Center and mercy Haven that helps uh find housing for the needing long yes so he kind of sent him Sprout really thin right I mean he was going going going

Yeah he he would donate memorabilia he would do the auctions he would play in the golf tournaments and lend his name actually Mercy Haven now uses his name as the honor it’s the bud harelson Man of the Year award and he was very dedicated to anything especially local where we lived

You know that helped our community in any way Kevin Mitchell told me a story speaking about signs before um in the 86 playoff game the game six when Kevin scored the tying run because he said that buddy pull him aside you got to watch out Stanley follows a sinker look

Out for a pass ball wild pitch that’s exactly what happened and Kevin said that it wasn’t a buddy’s tip he wouldn’t have got the start to score the Run wow and and he and he never really got any credit for that mhm I didn’t know that

Until I read it you married for 36 years you were divorced in 11 or 12 I forget divorced in 13 and what made you you really never left his side no he’s you know he was yeah I mean that’s kind of unusual like for better yeah we were

We were best friends yeah and that’s how our marriage ended as best friends right and so there was nothing to get Beyond or past or make up for we you know we were no longer married and and living in the same home but we stayed very close

We still shared holidays together as a family and so you know when bud when bud got sick it was natural especially it was natural to step in and help he stayed in our marital home and I knew how the home Ran So when it became confusing and difficult for him to do

Those things it was easy for me to step in and do them and then when we had to let go of Staff during covid I you know I saw how how much help Bud needed you know in um 2020 and how much of a burden

That fell on our son TJ who was living at home with him and I said oh you know this is much more than I really knew even though I was around all the time and I knew you know I so I moved in for

A year and a half how hard it is every with this thread of disease it it’s almost it’s hard on the families right what going through with the the people who are afflicted with disease I mean it’s it’s it’s it’s it’s crushing almost isn’t it I can only you I can only speak

For us in our experience and in in the beginning I think it’s it’s so hard on the the individual with the diagnosis because when they still have the awareness that they’re forgetting things and they can’t do things they used to do and they’re being guided and told every

Step of the way what to do it’s very frustrating and I could see it all over bud but the burden of Care on a family member is not something that I or any of us were prepared to do having that role reversal to now take care of Bud as his

World shrunk and he needed more and more help on and then he was waking up at night so it became 24 hours hours a day and that’s when the Alzheimer’s Association you’re on the board of directors of Long Island Alzheimer’s association yes yeah I mean we I know

They had they have to run every uh every yeah we have a walk it’s their biggest fundraiser Nationwide to help raise money for research and program services that you know really help support us take me back to the conversation when you told the kids what

The Mets were doing what you did on a zoom call you told me yes yeah I I didn’t tell a soul I wanted everyone to hear it at the same time and you know Kimberly’s in California and the other four children are here but they’re

Scattered so we were all on zoom and I told them and I have to tell you there was there was complete silence at first because it was still so new you know buds passing so it’s it was confirmation that he’s gone you know at first and I think we all felt that impact

So it was an excitement right away but they they felt they felt the generosity of the Mets organization in doing this and then the wow that this is opening day and we’re going to be throwing out the first pitch and and the team is going to be

Wearing a patch in his honor and so I have to say the initial the initial telling was very subdued you know um the Gratitude was there and the enormity of it but it was very subdued because we all felt in that moment you know okay this is happening

Because he’s gone you know look at what he did Kim it’s really amazing he was a he was a a player a coach a major league manager my league manager an announcer and he worked in the club’s community relations department that’s really amazing I mean it’s I I’ve been here 44

Plus years and to to have somebody a resume I mean you talk about Mr Med he was Mr Med I mean he could have done that too he could have put on the big head he did I mean I mean you know and after he left us he went to Long Island

To help Revitalize baseball there and he’s very proud that Cracker Jack Crocker Jack Foundation sure what what what did that do for the people in Long Island well like any charity you know it they raise money and use it to help people who are local to Long Island and

Bud was so proud of bringing baseball to Long Island in such a way that it was affordable there’s no charge for parking the tickets are affordable the food’s affordable and he could be on The Concourse shaking hands with the fans every Sunday the players lined up in

Chairs on the field and the fans would come down with their books to sign and he would go up in the sky boxes and and meet you know organizations and families and shake hands and take pictures that was a big part of his role there one game I got to touch on the

Famous Pete Rose budy house in battle uh game um three of the playoffs in game two the Mets with John mat like shut the Reds shut out the Reds on three hits after the game buddy told the media uh Matlock made the big men machine look like me supposedly before game

Three uh Pete Rose took offense to the remarks and Joe Morgan did so when buddy slides in at second basee um and and I guess what John told me buddy got tired of people running over him because of his slight build and when Pete Rose ran

Into him that was it he all 5’1 buddy house and got started a brawl I know you weren’t there but he never talked about that much with you right he didn’t I read that in the paper I didn’t really know what led up to that that was before

Me you know bud was married before me and so and but we were friendly our family was friends with with him and so I had heard about it and it was a big deal but I can tell you that bud was a very patient man but he had a breaking

Point that that Matlock said that was the breaking point that was the breaking point and that that that go go violence is good that one thing really one so many with with with his teammates gu 5 for 10 and Pete Rose with 511 210 outweighed by 70 80 lb but that didn’t

Affect buddy he just took him on yeah yeah he you know he said enough is enough and and and that was it and you know he really didn’t think about what the consequences would be and for we got to the World Series we had three games

Or two would lost but uh it’s been a long I mean January to now a lot of emotions but I mean a lot of good will happen on August 20 on March 28th right I mean yes absolutely you know well well have an opportunity to have the light shining on us but

Bud’s there you know it’s because of Bud and we all know that you know we we just carry his legacy he did this and we’re proud and honored to be able to show up for that on that day it’ll be nice well Kim you’ve been a good friend a long

Time and Buddy was a good friend with me I know he was J he loved you at the at the 50th reunion in 2019 he saw you and he lit up he took your his your face in his hands and gave you a kiss he led my

He loved my big head that’s why we went to see him a c with Rob drum was to see him always I would make try make my head came with art and and Rob and yes was what T you remember the I guess early on in the process with art had a

Catch with Buddy on the lawn and uh you know I mean 69 guys have stay tight unfortunately we every year we lose more you know that’s the said f but on a positive note it’ be great I know you’re get to get big hand on your grandkids

You have it all alined up three thrown to three right but best part you’re going to have 23 harelson family members in uniform uh to honor your husband that be really be great yes everyone’s coming from California we’ll all be together and you know and and we get to share

This yeah that’ be great Kim thanks for your time K thank you Jay so much thanks appreciate it