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Ben's Celebrates the Opening of Its First Restaurant in 1972 with an Appearance by Former New York Mets Shortstop Bud Harrelson

John Mitty Monday, November 5, 2012

When Ronnie Dragoon was putting the finishing touches on his first Ben’s location in Baldwin in 1972, twenty-eight-year-old Bud Harrelson was in his eighth season with the New York Mets. While Mr. Harrelson collected two World Series championship rings (one as a player, another as a coach), two Gold Gloves, an All-Star honor and a minor-league baseball championship title during his career as a player, coach and team owner, Mr. Dragoon was a success in his own right, starting with one restaurant on Long Island and expanding to five in New York and one in Florida.

On November 13, Mr. Harrelson, the former New York Mets shortstop and current co-owner of the Long Island Ducks minor league baseball team, will appear at Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers, located at 211-37 26^th Avenue in Bayside, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. He will discuss his career with the 1972 Mets and will be available afterwards to sign autographs and have pictures taken with the customers.

Mr. Harrelson was a shortstop for the New York Mets for 12 years. He was a member of the 1969 World Series championship and the 1973 National League championship teams. He was also a two-time National League All-Star and was voted Most Valuable Player in 1970. In 1971, he had a .969 fielding percentage, earning him Gold Glove award. He later went on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers before retiring from baseball in 1980.

In 1984, Mr. Harrelson joined the Mets as their third base coach. As a coach, he was a member of the 1986 World Series championship team. That same year, he was inducted into the Mets’ Hall of Fame. He later became the Mets’ manager from 1990 to 1991.

Mr. Harrelson is currently the owner of the Long Island Ducks and also serves as the Ducks’ bench coach. This year, the team won the Atlantic League title.

His appearance is part of a series of events and contests that Ben’s is hosting in celebration of its 40^th anniversary. For more information, please visit www.bensdeli.net.

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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