Meant to post this earlier. Just saw the clip again of Bill Buckner throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway. Loved that he came back and the ovation he deserved for being such a good player and a stand-up guy.
Of course, the cynic in me says it never would have happened had the Red Sox not finally won a World Series. I don’t particularly embrace the notion Red Sox Nation forgave Buckner. Red Sox Nation is the one who should ask for forgiveness from Buckner for the crappy way they treated him. I’ve been in Fenway enough times and heard from enough people how “Buckner blew that series.’’
What nonsense. How about Calvin Schiraldi? Bill Stanley? Don’t forget the Sox lead 3-0 in Game 7. Speaking of guys who should step up for that loss, where’s Roger?
Buckner didn’t deserve the scorn, but then again neither does any athlete who oesn’t make the play. I never understood the contempt some people have for players who fall short as long as they bust their butt.
I feel bad for Jackie Smith dropping that pass in the Super Bowl. I wouldn’t give Leon Lett a second thought for his fumble. They call them goats, but that might not be fair.
Who are others you remember history frowning on? Whom do you especially feel for?
PHOTO: AP
17 Comments
Hi John – Roger? The only thing I recall about him in 86 was him asking out of a game. Do you remember the details?
buckner is part to blame for the way redsux nation “treated” him. holing himself up in montana for a decade and refusing to apologize or even discuss the play didn’t help the situation. plus buckner was a gimp cripple who should have volunteered to lift himself for a defensive replacement.
JD,
Glad you made this post, b/c Buckner was a warrior for that team, plain and simple. But the inclusion of Leon Lett is a bit inapposite, if only for the reason that the Cowboys romped in the Superbowl in which Lett fumbled that ball. You are referring to the Don Beebe run-down, no? Or are you talking about the snow game at Texas Stadium against the Dolphins?
How about Donnie Moore, who as a pitcher for the Angels gave up a home run to Dave Henderson of the Red Sox in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS. As a result of the home run, the Angels did not go to the World Series. Moore later shot himself.
Obviously, he had other problems which led him to kill himself, but the scorn that he received from giving up that home run sure helped ruin his life.
I completely and totally agree with you. Players don’t want to fail. There is a lot of pressure and its not so easy to perform under it. A little understanding is in order when something like that happens. But some of the posters on this blog are guilty of it as well. In the final game of the season last year Tom Glavine did his best. He had some bad luck and wasn’t at his best but he was trying his hardest to win. Some of the posters on this blog had nothing but scorn for him. While he was here, he was a Met. He gave this team all he had. Maybe he liked living in Atlanta and wanted to move back. So what? He gave us his all and what you said pertains to him as much as to any other player who has failed in a big game.
I should add Carlos Beltran’s called 3rd strike to that as well. That was a flat out nasy curveball by Wainwright and Beltran took it because he thought it was going to be outside. He also doesn’t deserve any scorn for that.
What about Donnie Moore for the Angels in 86 right? If he does not give up that homer to Henderson, he might be alive today. People never forgave him, but most of all he never forgave himself.
The one I remember the longest was Ralph Terry giving up the WS ending HR to Mazeroski. And poor Art Ditmar. On the radio they said he was the pitcher.
And in 62 McCovey making the last out of game with guys on 2nd and 3rd. That was the first time I had ever seen a 2nd baseman playing in right field. And Damn if McCovey didn’t hit a bullet right to Bobby Richardson. And in a strange turn of events Terry won that game. A complete game 1-0 shutout.
The Met ones I remember as the worst was Timo Perez not hustling because he thought Zeile hit a HR, and was out at the plate. And Kenny Rogers walking in the clinching run against the Braves. Rogers was smart. He got the hell out of Queens before he could be booed out of town.
To Indianametsfan: Was it Buckner’s job to leave the game. Didn’t the Red Sox have a manager?
How about Denkinger the umpire who blew the call at first in game 6 in the Cards/Royals World Series of 85 that cost the Cards the championship? They imploded after that and he had his life threatened and the FBI protecting him.
The worst Met moment was Doc giving up that game tying HR to Scioscia in the ninth inning of game 4 in 88 to the Dodgers. That team never recovered from that moment and the downward spiral comtinued until the late 90’s.
I fear the 2008 Mets will never recover completely from the choke either. Not one guy. A collective effort but the bad blood is there for the whole team which is worse.
Taylor,
Nobody blames Glavine for not having his best stuff last September. What upset most of us was his 1) Excuses that afternoon, When he said that he made the pitches but did not get the calls, after hitting two batters, and 2) Making light about not being devistated at the outcome.
I do not think that Leon Lett (Don Bebbe play) gets put in this catagory, becasue his team one in a romp and did not effect the games outcome.
I would add Oiler blueliner Steve Smith to the discussion, who scored on his own team in the ‘86 conference finals.
“buckner is part to blame for the way redsux nation “treated” him. holing himself up in montana for a decade and refusing to apologize or even discuss the play didn’t help the situation. plus buckner was a gimp cripple who should have volunteered to lift himself for a defensive replacement.”
Would you want to walk around Boston after making that error? I know I wouldn’t. And why should Buckner apologize? He didn’t do it on purpose. As for discussing the play, same thing I said about the first statement… would you want to discuss it?
Your last comment is totally out of line. Volunteered to take himself out? Any ballplayer worth anything would want to be on the field for the last out of the World Series. If you have a beef with anyone it should be McNamara. He’s the manager and paid to make those tough decisions.
Honestly, sometimes I think fans are more obnoxious than the players are. Such a sense of entitlement. The team/players don’t owe the fans anything. They didn’t ask for your support. Sure, they appreciate the fact that you choose to support them, but some fans just expect way too much.
I think I’m ready to forgive Kenny Rogers for walking the winning run in. Not! Die Kenny Rogers, DIE!!! Okay, maybe that was a little rough, but you get the idea.
Hey, Met fans, was it the case of the Red Sox blowing it, rather than the Mets winning it? C’mon, Carter, Mitchell, Knight… and Mookie’s EPIC at bat.
Still think Boston blew it? Well, there’s plenty of blame for Buckner’s teammates: had Calvin Schiraldi been able to close the door or if Bob Stanley had not wild pitched the Red Sox into a tie game…
Scott Norwood
I think Calipari needs to get some recognition. That Memphis team did quite the choke job and since it was a team effort, the Coach should get the credit!
hi i enjoyed the read