The Bill Buckner error refers to one of the most infamous moments in Major League Baseball history. It occurred during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets.
What Happened:
Date: October 25, 1986
Situation: The Red Sox were leading the series 3-2 and were one out away from winning their first World Series since 1918.
Game context: In the bottom of the 10th inning, the Mets had tied the game 5–5 with two outs and two strikes.
The Play: With Mookie Wilson at bat, he hit a slow ground ball down the first-base line.
Buckner, the Red Sox first baseman, bent to field the ball, but it rolled under his glove and through his legs, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run.
The Mets won 6–5, forcing Game 7, which they also won, clinching the 1986 World Series title.
Aftermath:
Buckner became an unfortunate scapegoat for the Red Sox’s loss, though the team had already allowed the Mets to tie the game.
It wasn’t entirely his fault—pitching and managerial decisions also contributed to the loss.
The Red Sox finally broke the “Curse of the Bambino” and won the World Series in 2004, and Buckner was eventually forgiven by many fans.
In 2008, he received a standing ovation at Fenway Park during the Red Sox’s home opener.
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Legacy:
The Buckner error has become a symbol of heartbreak in sports and a cautionary tale of how a single moment can overshadow an otherwise solid career. Buckner had over 2,700 career hits and was a respected player, but the 1986 error defined his legacy for years.
Here are a few notable quotes related to Bill Buckner and the infamous 1986 World Series error:
From Bill Buckner
On returning to Fenway years later:
“(Expletive) happens.”
Reflecting right after the play:
“I can’t remember the last time I missed a ball like that, but I’ll remember this one.”
On what he first thought after the error:
“My first thought was, ‘Wow, we get to play in the seventh game of the World Series … We’ll get ’em tomorrow.’”
From Mookie Wilson (the batter whose grounder went through Buckner’s legs)
After Buckner’s death:
“We had developed a friendship that lasted well over 30 years. … Bill was a great, great baseball player whose legacy should not be defined by one play.”
On the error itself and their connection:
“We just happened to be two of the fortunate, unfortunate people that were involved. Let’s move on. As he told me, ‘Let’s ride with it.’”
On discussing the play over time:
“It never gets tired … all we have is our memories.”
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