Billy Buck could play.
He had his best years with the Cubs, for whom he won an NL batting championship and twice led the league in doubles. He also had two fine years for the Red Sox in 1985 and 1986, knocking in more than 100 runs each time, but we all know that the 1986 season was spoiled by one crucial ground ball that rolled through his legs, placing him in a club he could never escape: the famous goats. Since he did his purgatory on earth, he’s up there in heaven now, talkin’ baseball with fellow club members Bonehead Merkle, Mickey Owen, Fred Snodgrass and Roger Peckinpaugh.
Below – the catch Bill did not miss, from “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Buckner played himself in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, I don’t recall which season. In it, someone soft-tossed him an autographed Mookie Wilson baseball (a gift for Larry’s manager from his wife). Of course, Buckner is standing near an open window, and the house sits on the edge of a cliff – and Buckner misses the ball, and it goes out the window, and gone forever.
Susie, the foul-mouthed wife, who has never heard of Buckner, lashes out at him, screaming “Get the f— out of here Buckner!” “I thought you said you were a ball player, you can’t even catch a baseball you piece of s—!”
And in another episode he catches a falling baby to redeem himself
Curb Your Enthusiasm is not known for its heartfelt sentiment, but I got a little dust in my eye when he saved that baby. Marvelous moment for Buckner and some brilliant creativity by Larry David.
I think both of those moments occurred in the same show (s8e9). The autographed baseball moment shows you what a great sense of humor BB had, to do that after all the pain he must have suffered over that incident for all those years. Talk about givin’ it everything for a good laugh!
I was living in Boston in 1986 and my roommate was a Mets fans. I remember turning to him when they brought Stanley in and telling him, “the Mets are going to come back and win this.” Didn’t know anything about advanced stats at the time, just that Stanley sucked that year. (Looking now, he had a WHIP of 1.59 and ERA+ of 96).
I felt sorry for Buckner, but f the Red Sox.
Buckner’s story has always made me sad, and I think points out just how cruel people (especially the media) can be. The man had a lifetime fielding % of .992 committing on 128 errors in 22 years. Yet every story today will note the one error. One of my treasures is a signed baseball from Buckner; I keep it on my desk to remind myself that there is a lot more to the story in all of our lives than one bad moment.
All McNamara’s fault. Coming out of the ALCS Buckner could hardly stand up because of his injured ankle and he had been getting pulled in late innings for defense. Why not that game? That was a rough few rooting months – that and then the horror of “The Drive” just a few months later (family roots in Boston, grew up in NE OH).
Very good player wherever he played including Boston. RIP, Billy Buck.
Agree 100%. McNamara blew it. He made a double goof.
1. Buckner was hit by a pitch in the top of the tenth. The guy could barely walk, let alone run. He should have been pulled for a pinch runner, knowing that Stapleton was available to play first.
2. Even after McNamara failed to make that obvious move, he still needed to bring in Stapleton to play first in the bottom of the inning. Buckner was a mediocre fielder even on good legs (he had negative dWars throughout his career), and Stapleton was on the roster for that purpose alone.