This game and the infamous ground ball probably influenced me more than any other single event during my childhood. At the time, I was 9 years old, lived in Boston, was a die-hard Red Sox fan and had just come back from watching the Ringling Bros. Circus with my Dad. My dad wasn't a baseball fan at all, but knowing how important it was to me he let me stay up late -- way past my bedtime which he never did -- to watch the end of the game. I remember crying myself to sleep afterwards, but also feeling so bad for Bill Buckner. At the beginning of the next season, he was booed all the time, including home games. Being the innocent 10 year-old kid I was at the time, I remember not understanding how everyone could hate someone so much, especially since even as a 10 year-old I recognized that it wasn't his fault the Red Sox lost the World Series. I felt so bad that I wrote him a letter (in cursive writing -- I was so proud!) telling him that I still cheered for him and didn't understand why everyone was being so mean. He actually wrote me back within a month! From then on he was my favorite player of all time (and even today I think he should be in the Hall of Fame). I played first base growing up and met Buckner a few years later at an autograph signing. He had just recently retired. That one single play had completely ruined his legacy and, by all accounts, his life. At the autograph signing I had him sign my first base glove. He jokingly asked me if I really wanted him to sign it. I remember him being a nice and humble man who took a few minutes to talk with me and take a photo. I went on to play baseball through college at a top-ten Division I program as a pitcher/first baseman and proudly used my signed glove both in the field and even sometimes on the mound until the end of my collegiate career. Almost every teammate from middle school through college thought I was crazy but I was convinced that the glove was good luck and don't remember ever making an error when wearing it (though I'm sure I did, ha). When Buckner died, I went through my old stuff packed away in the attic to find my glove and the photo. I dug up my old glove, but sadly have never found the photo. My oldest son, who was 12 at the time I found the glove and not really a baseball fan, saw it sitting on the kitchen counter and asked me who signed it. I told him "Bill Buckner" and he had no idea who it was. We sat down together, watched some of the 1986 World Series, including the entire Game 6 (and also highlights of the 2004 world series which was memorable but in a good way) and I told him the whole story. It was a great bonding experience. Now both my oldest and younger son actually still fight over who gets to keep the glove in their rooms and argue over who will ultimately inherit it. They also appreciate the amazing player Buckner was and how he took the time to respond to a 10 year-old kid's letter during one of the toughest periods of his career/life. Most importantly to me, I was able to use one of the defining moments in my childhood 30+ years later as a teaching moment to remind my boys -- baseball fans or not -- that one moment can rightly or wrongly define your reputation and legacy, and to remember to be kind and support the people important to them when they are going through hard times if it's the right thing to do. Thank you, Bill Buckner.
I agree. I'm not a Red Sox fan but he was a classic. The real baseball fans will look into his accomplishments and will define his career not by that play only. RIP
My Fathah grew up in Mission Hill and use to sell papers outside of Fenway Pahk as khed... we would Watch the Sox all season.. He was crying .. ex Marine.. when this happen.
He made the bad play and also added to the Red Sox curse, which was why he got more hate than usual. Had the Red Sox still not won the World Series, had the curse still gone on, you want to bet Boston fans would've been as forgiving even today?
It wasn't even a lack of effort, he just misjudged the play. Had it been in the first inning no one would care. Cam Newton not diving on the fumble was much more costly to his team's championship dreams and that *was* a lack of effort
@@alexharvey6522 Also people tend to forget, the game was already gone, when Stanley threw the wild pitch or passed ball, looked like a passed ball to me, from seeing the replay, so that play didn't lose them the game, it was Stanley and Gedman.
Chrisler San Martin and he won a batting title. It’s a shame cause there were 2 outs with no one on base with a two run lead that game in the bottom of the tenth inning. There was the wild pitch by Bob Stanley earlier and Buckner wasn’t at his best he had been struggling with injuries. He won a batting title too one year
Unfortunately that’s true for some people in sports, like Grady Little. He was a pretty solid manager, but that one famous decision in 2003 has marked his career. Perhaps the same will go for Kevin Cash...
Rest in peace Bill Buckner. Red Sox wouldn't even been in the World Series without you. And then the massholes had to hand it to you for all those years.
Who you calling Masshole? Let me guess you must be from cow Hampshire. You must be the type of person that gives someone the middle finger with the windows up and your doors locked in your car right. . Bill Buckner blew the game for the Red Sox. A high school first baseman could have made that play the ball was hit right at him. He misplayed the ball had nothing to do with his legs. Sometimes the truth sucks..
@@mylittlepitbull3143 My little Pitbull lmao. You're a real tough guy on Facebook huh with your little name-calling of people from Massachusetts. Go hide behind your mother's skirt. Bill Buckner blew the game. Bottom line...
@@robertbrooks8725 4.5 billion years of evolution just to end up being a so weak that you get this easily triggered about a game over 30 years ago. I couldn’t even imagine letting myself be that weak.
RIP Bill Buckner. I never appreciated his skill until he died. Number 66 on the all time mlb hit list, and considering that 50 players ahead of him are HOFers and another 7 to 10 at least should statistically be HOF, it really puts into perspective how much he dedicated his time to the craft. RIP Bill. No play defined your career, 22 solid years in the MLB did.
And what a fitting tribute Larry David gave him, making him a true hero at the end of Season 8, episode 9. He went out on high note with that great show. He was a good actor too! And how great was it to see the Massholes made fun of, showing the hatred they spewed.
Even though I’m born and raised in Louisiana, I’m a lifelong Mets fan. I was at a dr. visit a few years ago wearing a Mets hat, my dr asked me who my favorite Met is. I looked him straight in the eye and said Bill Buckner. RIP to a great every day player. He didn’t lose that series, the team did. He’s not to blame.
So many people blame Buckner as being the play that lost Game Six, but no one seems to blame Bob Stanley, whose wild pitch just beforehand TIED the game. Why does no one also point to that play as being "the moment" in this game? Four times before that wild pitch, the Mets were down to their final strike.
I know right, even though i was not born to see this series, and i watched the sox 2004 world series dvd, they put bill buckners error, but did not anything else. That is why when i watched espn top 5 reasons why you cant blame bill buckner. Those reasons were legit, Calvin Schiraldi giving up singles was good reason as well.
I love that Vin Scully called this game. It would have taken its place in history regardless of who was in the booth, but Vinny's call immortalized it.
This guy was a great player, nearly Hall of Fame caliber, with over 2700 career hits over 22 years in the Majors. And he was a reasonably good fielder at 1st base. Yet his entire career is almost forgotten because of one error. I've heard that he never really recovered, mentally, from the fallout after this play. It's kind of the reverse of Bill Mazeroski, a good ballplayer who is in the Hall of Fame because of a single home run. RIP Billy Bucks! We loved you in L.A., and you brought us Rick Monday in trade. You'll never be forgotten by me.
There are so many events that have to occur just to get to the World Series, let alone win, that it is flat out idiotic to blame the loss on a single event like this. It would be like saying I got into a car accident because I took an extra 10 seconds to get a piece of gum earlier in the day. Besides, Buckner helped get the Red Sox to the World Series in the first place.
Great attitude: nice to see it for a change. It's like calling somebody that worked their entire life to get to Olympics and missed the Gold by fraction of second, or fraction of a point. And, the fault was many -- they got too excited and lazy, starting with Rich Gedman's passed ball, which was (IMO) ruled a "wild pitch." Hell, a girl softball catcher should have caught that ball!!!!!
@@BestSolarLights And here we go... Another awesome player and human being Gedman being wrongly bashed. Firstly it was ruled a wild pitch. Secondly... Who cares?
Bill Buckner most certainly did not deserve the hate he received from Red Sox fan's after 1986 series. He was the scapegoat. That game was lost by Manager Dave McNamera (kept seasons defensive specialist, Dave Stapelton, on bench) , Roger Clemens (are you in or are you out Roger?), CALVIN SCHIRALDI, and the "passed ball combo" of Bob Stanley & Rich Gedman. RIP Bill. You were a great ballplayer and a class act.
Watched the Curb episode with Bill Buckner for the first time today. It's one of the best episodes and Buckner is great in it, considering he isn't an actor. Really touching ending.
Anthony He didn’t have any weight on his shoulders. The family wasn’t seeking the fans’ forgiveness. They didn’t believe his missed ball catch costed them the series in ‘86.
Hammerschlägen M it is understandable for the family to think that though because the game would have still been tied and Mets could have just won it without that error in the 10th inning or further. If he made the error and gave up the tied run and winning run then that would have been on him.
Hammerschlägen M Yes that is correct. The family was not remorseful and did not believe his missed catch resulted in them losing the series. Only the fans did, as they used him as a scapegoat.
I was only 11 years old when this happened. But I tell ya, my jaw dropped just like everyone elses when I watched it happen. Living in Atlanta and being a Braves fan in the 80's was a very depressing life. So my "other" favorite team at the time was the Mets since Keith Hernandez was my favorite player growing up. I remember jumping up and down with excitement. But at the same, knowing Buckner was a top-notch player, his career was finished. I felt really bad about that.
Ps. I just watched a documentary about the curse of the bambino and idk about this but I'm so sad about that documentary so I wanted to see the comments in a video about that pss the freakin' Google ad is sucky and annoying so that's why I watched the documentary. Also I didn't grow up around the 1900s IM FROM THE FUTURE IN THE 2000's
Buckner was an awesome player and one of the big reasons the Sox were so good that season. His ankles were gone and he was in a lot of pain. They kept him in that game for his bat but he should have been pulled at the start of this inning. Basically the coach blew it, left him in for nostalgic reasons. They had to rush the champagne out if the Sox locker room. Sad that Buckner's great career is remembered for just this last second. The ball got through because of his ankles being totally shot. Poor guy still got some booing at Fenway just a few years ago when the Sox last won the championship. After 86 he had to move his whole family away because of death threats, no joke.
Duh; the game was over by then and I'm assuming that you forget (being so young) the passed ball by Gedman that led to this point. At which the game was effectively over. Live and learn. Then get Luvs or go mute.
Buckner got quite a few endorsements and TV appearances out of this. His notoriety was divisive: some hated him, but some loved him. Better than no love at all. He got more love than the average player for sure. And he gotta do what he loved. If I were he, I would say to myself every day, life is good.
I was born in Boston in 83' and you grew up hearing about this as fast as you learn how to say mom or dad. I'm glad our city has since won a "few" titles for his sake.
The Red Sox should have won that World Series. It still stings but human beings aren't perfect. I do fee bad for what Buckner had to endure.. He was a good player.. What's funny is that he worse a Cubs glove underneath the mitt. The Cubs curse is ridiculous.
If you are old enough to remember the 1986 series and your team won two world series in the oughts not to mention a bunch of super bowl wins I'd just like to say. GET OVER IT!
Im a lifelong NYM fan. I was 10 yrs old during the 86 WS. After the Mets won Game 6, with the Buckner error, and then wom Game 7, the Red Sox players, management, fans, treated Buckner like garbage until the Redosox won the WS in 2004. He was a great player for a long time. He deserved soo much better than the way he was treated. The Red Sox were up 3 games to 2, in the bottom of the 10th, up by 2 runs, with 2 outs and nobody on. Then the Mets get a few hits and somehow, someway, tie it. Shea Stadium was beyond epic those who were at the game said. Then Mookie and Buckner play. The rest is history
Watching the Mets win the World Series when I'd just turned 7 was one of the first vivid memories i have of my childhood. Arguably, a defining memory which prevented me from ever cheering for the Yankees, regardless of being a New Yorker, no matter how well they would go on to do, despite no longer being a hardcore baseball fan. It's such a shame that this great memory for me was a terrible memory for Billy Buckner, who by all accounts was a great man.
No. Bill was happy in 2004 when the Yankees lost 4 in a row to comeback and Win the World Series. That was how the curse was broken in the first place. Lot of people blamed Joe Torre for that epic debacle.
The Mets were a scary team after game 6, because if they couldn't lose game 6 , they weren't going to lose the world series, it was their year. Much respect for Bill, he took his eye off the ball for a split second, but much credit to Mookie for not giving up on the play and running as fast as he could.
So I was at a bar in Corpus Christi, Texas and my buddy and I were joking around and said, hey that looks like Bill Buckner, you know celebrity look alike, an hour later we were talking to THE BILL BUCKNER, he was a really nice guy, the only reference I made to him about baseball was his about his great hitting. RIP BB.
I have a story about this Matt Den Decker and some Yankee were visiting my school as a fundraiser. In the back of the auditorium they had a raffle with some autographed pictures of Mets players and moments and some Yankee's players and moments. Note at this time I wasn't a Mets or Yankee fan, I just went because I had baseball cards of Mat Den Decker and I knew he would sign it. My Dad said (just pretend this is what he said because it keeps the story going) "Oh look, let's put a ticket in for this one!" He was talking about an Alex Rodriguez signed plaque (He's still a Yankee fan, but today I'm a Mets fan). I said "No I want to get this one." That being an autographed picture of the moment signed by Mookie and Bill. He said "Are you sure." I said "Yes I want THIS ONE." I don't know why I wanted it. He was upset he wasted money on a ticket for a team he doesn't like that much and a team I hadn't yet become a fan of. Cut to about 45 minutes later and guess who's taking home an autograph from Mookie and Bill. Just to clarify, I didn't become a Mets fan because of this, I just happened to become one a little while after.
Here after watching Curb Your Enthusiasm. Just graduated from high school when he made that error. I forgot all about it, he was a good sport for playing himself on CYE.
Played 20 plus years and almost hit .300 career avg if he hadn’t of made that error they would of put him in the hall of fame blue jays fan seen you lots Rest In Peace ✌️
Real fans know he was a class act and very good ballplayer. It's not like he did what Donnie Moore did to himself under similar circumstances that same post season. Look it up, if you're unfamiliar.
One of the most memorable moments in sports?! Watched this game live in upstate NY.Everyone else had gone to bed. Sold me on baseball for many years. Still get chills watching it.
This play happened on a Saturday night. I was at a birthday party at a friend's house, and one guy there was glued to the television set watching this game. Everyone else was pretty much uninterested. This guy was a Mets fan and he was getting more and more excited. So more people started to come over and look. Just before this play, about half the party was watching. This was such a distraction that it broke up normal conversations, kitchen cleanup, card games, and whatever else was going on at the party and everyone was watching the television. Then this one play happens. Half the people at that party only saw one play in the 1986 World Series and this was it. I could imagine this happening around the country at bars, parties, and even where one baseball fan at home was watching and everyone else in the family was not interested but did watch at this one moment. The reason why this play is so famous is not because it is memorable to baseball fans, it's because it's so memorable to non-fans as well.
I love this. I was watching on TV. I screamed and jumped up & down like an idiot. My (at the time) boyfriend, the Irish one, thought I was out of my mind. RIP Bill Buckner. METS fans love you.
It never gets old in sports you will be remembered for the last thing you did that will outweigh everything else that one error in the World Series Forever changed his career RIP Bill 🙏
Growing up in Chicago, he was one of first baseball heroes. Every time I see that play over and over again it makes me get teary eyed. 😢 Anyway, RIP BILL #22
Bill Buckner was living proof that one event can define a person’s life and the lives of others as well. I always felt sorry for the guy but I was thankful to him for ending my interest in sports. After that crushing loss, life went on. I realized sports had no affect whatsoever on the direction of our country or my own life. I never turned on a sporting event again but I will admit to attending a few Super Bowl parties. LOL! God Bless Billy Buckner.
I was 16 when this happened and I was happy the Mets won. I look at it through a father's eyes now and think how bad it would have been to watch your son suffer like that. Bill was a fantastic player and I feel terrible that this happened to him. It was such a routine play that if he would have picked it up and tapped the base it would have been a non-story. BTW F the Redsox. LOL
Had the right fielder done his job backing up a ground ball to first base, he might have been able to make a play at the plate. Buckner deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
I’m a Met fan and remember it well, but I am also a Bill Buckner fan. Bill was the scapegoat of that series. There is no way he, or the pitcher, would have beaten Mookie to 1st even if he fielded the ball cleanly. It’s too bad that’s all he’s remembered for - he was an outstanding player.
I had to look for this because I got thinking about my dad and how we watched this game back in 86 and I just been thinking about my dad and some of my best memories with him. I get really emotional when i think about it and watching this world series and I've been crying thinking about him. I would give anything to go back and relive these days and watch this world series with him again. I love you Dad and I miss you so much
Magic night. What a lot of people don't talk about, and was at least symbolically important, was the rally lady fan who kept doing the rolling-her-arms thing over and over. She was slightly to the left & behind home plate and was part of the broadcast as the rally grew.
Justin ... I read that she just recently passed. She remained popular in northern NJ, and was a Met's season ticket holder til the end. Her seats behind home plate were obscured in the 90's by cushy corporate seating.
As a Mets/Jets fan there haven't been many moments to cheer about over the years, but this remains the most exciting thing I've ever witnessed in sports. I can still remember, it was over, done, put a fork in it, and we were all in an apt kicking the ground and looking defeated. Even today I see it and I can't quite believe it.
RIP Bill Buckner, im an Astros fan and was heartbroken when i heard the news He was a Really good player but people only look at this moment in his career
Bojack Horseman s01e05 sent me here. "The game. Watching the game. Can't look up. How ya doin'?" "It's from 1986, you've watched it a hundred times" "And how many times does Buckner break our hearts? One hundred times!"
So it's Buckner's fault the Red Sox lost the game... I guess Schiraldi's giving up three straight base hits, and Stanley's wild pitch had nothing to do with it. :/
No, RICH GEDMAN's passed ball. It amazes me all the people who weren't born, were infants, or young teens who feel the need to discuss this. Dammit. I still remember 68, 75, 78 and 86 VIVIDLY. Ha ha, who laughs laugh (and my guess it's Manny and David Ortiz) laugh best. Along with Red Sox Nation; coming back 3-0 to slay Yankees in Yankee Stadium. I still HAPPILY remember the shock on Fan's faces (think draws dropping to the floor, Steinbrenner having a hemmy, A-Roid's purple lips pouting like a crying 2 year old. FUN FUN FUN! More fun than actually winning Series!!!! Only good NY sports were Jeter and Mariano Rivera (who tipped his hat and smiled when Sox fans gave him a standing ovation opening game: Yanks at Fenway, April 2005.) Does not get any better than that!
I was on stage in Kenmore Square, Boston, ready to celebrate the Red Sox, winning the World Series. We watch the overhead TV in the Cheers-like pub, and that happened. The air fell out of the room, and everybody went home, the band was done. Now, everybody knows his name.
One should not judge a player by one bad fielding play out of over 15,000 career chances and a .991 fielding average, plus a .289 batting average and over 2,700 hits. R.I.P. Mr. Buckner.
They still had a shot in Game 7...they were up 3-0 but couldn't hold it. Ended up losing 8 - 5. No matter what. Billy Buck was a stud! RIP Bill Buckner!Peace to you Reggie.
How lol! Daniel Murphy was the main reason the Mets were even in the World Series lmao!#wtf
4 месяца назад
I've watched this clip a million times, hoping just once he caught it. Breaks my heart each time. True baseball fans with knowledge know the pitching blew this game, not Billy. I'd take him anytime on my team.
RIP Bill. I Agree - one play won't define your career. People forget the passed ball right before that tied the game. Will remember you in a Dodger uniform.
It's quite sad really, that some games are lost with the focus on one player in a clinch moment. Had Buckner's greatest error occurred a couple days or even a few innings earlier, he would have been spared the ignominy of a career and life defined by a fraction of a second.
Almost lost to history: The Red Sox fans gave him an ovation on Opening Day, 1987, and then another standing ovation, a much longer one, on Opening Day in 1990 (he had played the 1988 and 1989 seasons on the Angels and Royals, then had a short-lived return to the Red Sox in 1990). Some of the fans mistreated Buckner for this error, but many never did. His return to Fenway in 2008 is one of the great moments in baseball history. RIP.
As a Mets fan it was the cumulative and decisive play of an unfathomable comeback. I never once delighted in Buckner’s misery. In fact it was such a great series that when we won game 7 I felt an odd tiny bit of sympathy for the Boston players on the bench watching our guys celebrate. Bill Buckner was a class act and he always handled it the right way. I think true BoSox fans put it in perspective especially with their good fortunes in the 2000’s. But I’m a Mets fan and I’m happy we won.
if you watch the full game 6 boston needed 1 strike to win world series..i always wondered by bill buckner was blamed... he didn't cause the mets to tie it up and then win game 6...remember the mets were 1 strike from losing and boston 1 strike from winning their first world series since 1918..i always blamed the pitcher bob stanley and the manager
Cuz he was the last one involved. Works like that man. In the 2011 World Series ,when my cardinals won, in game six Freese made two great hits. Everyone forgot lance Berkman getting him into that position and he was a key part in that game. I forgot about that until I read about it later, we all only remembered Freese. Just the way it is.
Even if Buckner makes the play Mookie still might have beaten him to the bag. But even if he got the out, the game would’ve been tied. The Red Sox could have still lost anyway. Met fan here, always respected Bill Buckner as an excellent baseball player
A Boston buddy of mine said the same thing. If Stanley had not thrown that wild pitch that made Mookie jump and the winning run had been on 3rd, then Buckner would not have been turned into the bad guy that night. Yes, I know, that's a lot of "ifs".
