Billy Buckner
In the 1986 World Series the ball rolled through Bill Buckner’s legs. He was playing first base for the Red Sox and they were on the verge of winning that World Series.
There are a couple of sad things about the story.
1). I was rooting for the Red Sux. I didn’t like them, mind you. They had Clemens and Boggs and I hated them both (liked them better when they were Yankees).
2). Buckner shouldn’t have been out there. He was on the backside of his career and he was hurting. They were protecting a lead. He should’ve been replaced.
3). He wasn’t the only goat. Bob Stanley and Calvin Schiraldi were the two pitches who butchered that inning.
4). Billy Buckner was a very, very, very good player for the Dodgers and Cubs before that. He also hit well for the Sux that year.
But he had to wear the label of the goat. 🐐
And wear it he did.
He stood up to all the hate.
He signed photos of the scene beside Mookie Wilson who hit the ball.
Billy Buckner took a beating. He was the ultimate example of failing in a big moment.
Scott Norwood, the kicker for the Bills, had to wear the goat shirt for missing a field goal that cost the Bills a super bowl, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I saw Buckner on an episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and he was the brunt of the joke and he handled it.
Boston gave him a standing ovation when he returned.
He handled it with grace in every interview, and I’m sure he heard about it every single damn day.
He died after suffering from dementia.
It’s a nasty, nasty end.
Yet, when I heard the news, I thought about what a good player he was...
...good player...
...one bad play.
And the stupid Mets team that I really didn’t like won the series that year.
Ah well, at least it wasn’t the Red Sux.
Billy Bucks.
They’ll show the play a hundred times this week.
And that’s too bad.
There are a couple of sad things about the story.
1). I was rooting for the Red Sux. I didn’t like them, mind you. They had Clemens and Boggs and I hated them both (liked them better when they were Yankees).
2). Buckner shouldn’t have been out there. He was on the backside of his career and he was hurting. They were protecting a lead. He should’ve been replaced.
3). He wasn’t the only goat. Bob Stanley and Calvin Schiraldi were the two pitches who butchered that inning.
4). Billy Buckner was a very, very, very good player for the Dodgers and Cubs before that. He also hit well for the Sux that year.
But he had to wear the label of the goat. 🐐
And wear it he did.
He stood up to all the hate.
He signed photos of the scene beside Mookie Wilson who hit the ball.
Billy Buckner took a beating. He was the ultimate example of failing in a big moment.
Scott Norwood, the kicker for the Bills, had to wear the goat shirt for missing a field goal that cost the Bills a super bowl, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I saw Buckner on an episode of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and he was the brunt of the joke and he handled it.
Boston gave him a standing ovation when he returned.
He handled it with grace in every interview, and I’m sure he heard about it every single damn day.
He died after suffering from dementia.
It’s a nasty, nasty end.
Yet, when I heard the news, I thought about what a good player he was...
...good player...
...one bad play.
And the stupid Mets team that I really didn’t like won the series that year.
Ah well, at least it wasn’t the Red Sux.
Billy Bucks.
They’ll show the play a hundred times this week.
And that’s too bad.
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