Eddie Bressoud--1966
Somewhere between the Mets’ 120-
loss inaugural season in 1962 and
their Miracle of ‘69, New York used
15 different shortstops before Bud
Harrelson took charge in ‘67. And
Eddie Bressoud was one of them.
From Felix Mantilla who started that
first game for the Mets, to Al Moran
who hit a paltry .193 in 119 games
the next year and outfielder Billy
Cowan who stood out at short in '65
to make two putouts in one inning of
work for the shortest stint--- the Mets
had a tough time finding a shortstop.
Bressoud landed in New York for the
1966 season, after beginning his
career with the Giants and spending
four seasons with the Red Sox. A .
250-hitter during his days with the
Giants, who faded during his final
days in San Francisco; Bressoud was
drafted by the Houston Colt .45s in
the expansion draft. Just a little more
than a month of being a Colt .45, the
shortstop was shuttled to Boston for
Don Buddin who lasted just 40
games in Houston in one bad deal for
the upstart club, but a great deal for
Boston.
Bressoud flourished in Bean Town,
hitting a career-high 20 long balls in ’
63 and a career-high .293 the
following season, when he was
named to the American League All-
Star squad to replace Luis Aparicio.
Unfortunately he faded in 1965,
hitting .226, as Rico Petrocelli began
his ascent to the shortstop job.
Traded to the Mets prior to the ’66
season, the slick fielding shortstop
anchored the middle of the infield,
but continued to struggle with the
lumber to hit just .225. He joined the
St. Louis Cardinals for their World
Series Title in 1967, hitting only .134
in 67 games.
It should also be noted that Bressoud
and Willie Mays may have been the
only New York Giants to ever
reappear in New York as a Met---
which we can’t say is a fact--- but we
do know that he was a link from the
Mets first steps to their first World
Championship.
(4/27/10)
loss inaugural season in 1962 and
their Miracle of ‘69, New York used
15 different shortstops before Bud
Harrelson took charge in ‘67. And
Eddie Bressoud was one of them.
From Felix Mantilla who started that
first game for the Mets, to Al Moran
who hit a paltry .193 in 119 games
the next year and outfielder Billy
Cowan who stood out at short in '65
to make two putouts in one inning of
work for the shortest stint--- the Mets
had a tough time finding a shortstop.
Bressoud landed in New York for the
1966 season, after beginning his
career with the Giants and spending
four seasons with the Red Sox. A .
250-hitter during his days with the
Giants, who faded during his final
days in San Francisco; Bressoud was
drafted by the Houston Colt .45s in
the expansion draft. Just a little more
than a month of being a Colt .45, the
shortstop was shuttled to Boston for
Don Buddin who lasted just 40
games in Houston in one bad deal for
the upstart club, but a great deal for
Boston.
Bressoud flourished in Bean Town,
hitting a career-high 20 long balls in ’
63 and a career-high .293 the
following season, when he was
named to the American League All-
Star squad to replace Luis Aparicio.
Unfortunately he faded in 1965,
hitting .226, as Rico Petrocelli began
his ascent to the shortstop job.
Traded to the Mets prior to the ’66
season, the slick fielding shortstop
anchored the middle of the infield,
but continued to struggle with the
lumber to hit just .225. He joined the
St. Louis Cardinals for their World
Series Title in 1967, hitting only .134
in 67 games.
It should also be noted that Bressoud
and Willie Mays may have been the
only New York Giants to ever
reappear in New York as a Met---
which we can’t say is a fact--- but we
do know that he was a link from the
Mets first steps to their first World
Championship.
(4/27/10)
