For an entire generation of Boston Red Sox fans, Bill Buckner became one of the poster players of the Curse of the Bambino. That fateful moment happened on this day in 1986.
During a career that spanned 22 years, Bill Buckner had quite a few highlights. He led the National League in doubles twice, and won the batting title in 1980. Buckner had over 200 hits twice en route to finishing his career with 2715 base knocks, and three seasons with over 100 RBI. He even had a bit of speed in his youth, stealing over 25 bases twice.
And yet, for most baseball fans, particularly those who follow the Boston Red Sox, Buckner’s career is remembered for one error. It was a ground ball off the bat of Mookie Wilson that skipped between Buckner’s legs on this day in 1986, allowing the New York Mets to win Game Six of the World Series.
While the blame seems to focus on Buckner, he was hardly alone in perpetrating the meltdown. Indeed, the Red Sox had the Mets down to their final out, leading 5-3 in the bottom of the tenth inning. Calvin Schiraldi, who had already allowed the Mets to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, was one out away from redemption. And then, disaster.
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It all began with a base hit by Gary Carter. Kevin Mitchell pinch hit for Rick Aguilera, and singled to put runners on first and second. Ray Knight followed with a base hit of his own, scoring Carter and putting runners on the corners. Schiraldi, who was obviously laboring, was taken out of the game, as Bob Stanley was brought into the game.
For a moment, that move appeared to work. Stanley had Mookie Wilson down to his last strike, then fired a ball that just missed hitting Wilson in the knees. The ball skipped to the backstop, letting Mitchell score the tying run and allowing Knight to move up to second. Knight would take a lead so far from second that Marty Barrett was yelling for Stanley to pick him off, but the pitcher could not hear his second baseman over the crowd noise.
Instead, Stanley focused on pitching to Wilson, and got that infamous grounder to first. Buckner, whose back had been bothering him, was unable to bend enough to get to the ball, letting it go between his legs for the fatal blow. Knight raced home, and the Mets completed their comeback.
Yes, Buckner’s error let the winning run score, but he was hardly the only culprit. From manager John McNamara‘s dubious decision to lift Roger Clemens for a pinch hitter, to Schiraldi’s meltdown, to Stanley’s errant throw, there were plenty of other targets worthy of blame.
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After the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, Bill Buckner was accepted back into the fold, his error forgiven. And yet, on this day in 1986, Buckner was hardly the only player that the Mets comeback victory, and their eventual World Series championship.