RIP Bill Buckner.

[Schoonerman]

Bill Buckner died at age 69 after battling dementia. Unfairly, he is noted for "the boot" on a routine ground ball at first base against the Mets in the World Series that would have sealed game 6 for the Red Sox. Buckner played 22 season in the major leagues. RIP Bill.

 

[CTOkie]

I saw Buckner play his first full season with the Dodgers in 1970 while at the Astrodome.
2,715 hits, 174 homers and he never whiffed more than 40 times in any season....and in 1982, in 709 plate appearances, he whiffed 26 times. He is at least a borderline Hall of Famer, and I believe he would have been had he not been plagued with ankle injuries.
The famous error in game 6 of the World Series is mentioned too often....while the implosion of relievers Calvin Schiraldi and Bob Stanley in the 8th, 9th and 10th innings (after Roger Clemens pitched 7 strong innings) gets mentioned very little.
In comparison, Mariano Rivera with his 652 saves, had epic failures in the 1997 playoffs vs. Cleveland, game 7 of the 2001 World Series and a blown save in game 4 in the 2004 playoffs with Boston (a win that would have sent NY to the Series). These failures for me, a Yankees fan, trump one ground ball misplay by Buckner, whose team still had one more game to play with the Mets.

 

[veritas59]

So many players remember for one play. Sadly, that's the first thing that came to my mind when I heard he'd died. What's the first thing you think about when you hear Jackie Smith's or Leon Lett's names?

Conversely, what about Kirk Gibson or Doug Flutie?

Such is our sad nature.

 

[WhyNotaSooner]

He shouldn't have even been fielding. Late in the game? Injured? Easily he should've been the DH if he's that banged up. The error was on the Mgr moreso than the player.

 

[runningback43]

So many players remember for one play. Sadly, that's the first thing that came to my mind when I heard he'd died. What's the first thing you think about when you hear Jackie Smith's or Leon Lett's names?

Conversely, what about Kirk Gibson or Doug Flutie?

Such is our sad nature.

Actually my first thought was what a great ball player, that is unfortunately only remembered for one error.

 

[Plainosooner]

Actually my first thought was what a great ball player, that is unfortunately only remembered for one error.

I don't remember the year, but I had his rookie card. Not positive, but I think it was one of those years, when Topps put two rookies on the same card.