The Bad Dude

Four-time All-Star John Stearns spent over a decade in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Nicknamed “Bad Dude” for his hard-nosed style of play, Stearns first shined on the baseball and football teams at Colorado University. In 1973, he was selected in both the MLB and NFL drafts and ended up signing with the Philadelphia Phillies as the second overall pick. Stearns came to New York from the Tug McGraw trade in December 1974 and became starting catcher in 1977. He was known for his toughness and hustle as a Mets backstop. After injuries cut his playing career short, Stearns worked in the Mets minor league system as a coach and manager.