Buddy Harrelson , one of the first stars of the New York Mets, a member of the 1969 World Series championship club, and a former owner of the Long Island Ducks, died at the age of 79 on Jan. 11.

The Long Island Ducks have a dedicated fan base for an independent professional baseball team, as if they’re one of the bigger sports in this town. Friday night was Opening Day, and they welcomed a ...