Agreed.It's inappropriate for Valantine to tweet something like that and shows a lack of respect for the privacy of Buckner's family.
Yep a complete dick move by Valentine, who knew he had that in him.It's inappropriate for Valantine to tweet something like that and shows a lack of respect for the privacy of Buckner's family.
Not to mention it was Game 6.Life isn't fair. The poor guy was roasted for one bad moment in '86 after a stellar career. You win as a team and lose as one. He took the heat when McNamara should have for not putting in a defensive replacement for Buckner who was hobbled. Buckner also had teammates who also didn't get the job done that night. Let him rest in peace.
He also got on in front of Baylor in Game 5 in Anaheim. Wouldn’t have won the pennant without him.Life isn't fair. The poor guy was roasted for one bad moment in '86 after a stellar career. You win as a team and lose as one. He took the heat when McNamara should have for not putting in a defensive replacement for Buckner who was hobbled. Buckner also had teammates who also didn't get the job done that night. Let him rest in peace.
Calvin Schiraldi needs to be in that conversation. It was a long time ago and it just wasn't meant to be. But I recall recently Bill came back to Fenway and was loudly loved by the Fenway faithful.Life isn't fair. The poor guy was roasted for one bad moment in '86 after a stellar career. You win as a team and lose as one. He took the heat when McNamara should have for not putting in a defensive replacement for Buckner who was hobbled. Buckner also had teammates who also didn't get the job done that night. Let him rest in peace.
Link to Seacoast story from 2008“I really had to forgive,” he said after collecting himself, “not the fans of Boston per se, but I would have to say, in my heart, I had to forgive the media ...”
Another pause, this one for 10 seconds, before he continued, ”... for what they put me and my family through. So I’ve done that. I’m over that. And I’m just happy that I just try to think of the positive. The happy things.”
Buckner looks younger than his 58 years with the thick mustache he wore as a player. His expression was solemn and his words serious.
The ceremony was “tremendous,” Boston catcher Jason Varitek said. “Hopefully, it allows him to enjoy his life and people to enjoy the career that he did have.”
The Buckner/Eckersley trade date was May 25. And we'll always have that glorious inside-the-parker. RIP.
@Spacemans BongI remember attending the game before the All Star game in 1986. Buck could barely walk and hobbled painfully as he warmed up for at least an hour before the game. The Sox ended up winning, 3-2, with his HR being the difference. I never blamed him for the Game 6 loss, and that inside the park HR two years later is one of the most underrated and unlikeliest events in RS history.
And that was the third time he was welcomed back by the crowd at Fenway. If not the fourth. Most folks knew pretty quickly that it wasn't his faultOpening day in '08 was a good day. Felt like a lot of redemption on all sides.
Link to Seacoast story from 2008
Washington's fate there might've been Torii Hunter's fate, too, if Ortiz's shot in 2013 ALCS game 2 had been a foot lower. Laying there insensible, just outside the field of play, while a slow slugger motors around the bases.I’ve never seen that video before, wow!
I always felt bad for the way he was treated up to 2004. What did he need "forgiveness" for? Dude was a great hitter and didn't deserve the crap he got from the city for decades. RIPLife isn't fair. The poor guy was roasted for one bad moment in '86 after a stellar career. You win as a team and lose as one. He took the heat when McNamara should have for not putting in a defensive replacement for Buckner who was hobbled. Buckner also had teammates who also didn't get the job done that night. Let him rest in peace.
Yet another defensive failure. How much more evidence do we need?My favorite bit of Buckner trivia is that he was the left fielder who watched Hank Aaron's 715th HR go over his head into the Braves' bullpen.
The city didn't give him crap, the media narrative did, and he basically said as much.I always felt bad for the way he was treated up to 2004. What did he need "forgiveness" for? Dude was a great hitter and didn't deserve the crap he got from the city for decades. RIP
Great hitter and one of the classiest players to play here. Everyone will hear that he was roasted and vilified by Boston fans for over 20 years, but the reality is outside of the ignorant minority, he was quickly "forgiven". Here is the article from his return in 1990.And that was the third time he was welcomed back by the crowd at Fenway. If not the fourth. Most folks knew pretty quickly that it wasn't his fault
I doubt I'll read any of the obits where want to stretch their "artistic" muscles by putting the grounder into perspective to the sum of the player and the person.I hope that inside the park HR video gets more run over the next 24-48 hours than the Game 6 grounder, but I'm sure it won't.
Oh c'mon ... you know darn well why this isn't a fair comparisonMore career hits than Ted Williams.
Well stated Al, RIP Billy Bucks indeed. Not to derail the thread, it was Clemens as much as any one player. Blister, right, the pussy.For better or for worse Bill Buckner makes up a large part of DNA of both a baseball and a Sox fan. I absolutely would have it no other way. Not only was he a player to admire during my peak formative years but had 86 never happened then The Pedro Years, 04, the subsequent championships would have been less sweet. He’s an integral part of the story of the past 30 years
Totally. Even though he was an observer and not a direct participant, the redemption of '04 and beyond means a lot more with his story.For better or for worse Bill Buckner makes up a large part of DNA of both a baseball and a Sox fan. I absolutely would have it no other way. Not only was he a player to admire during my peak formative years but had 86 never happened then The Pedro Years, 04, the subsequent championships would have been less sweet. He’s an integral part of the story of the past 30 years
Not even close. Mike Trout had more WAR in 2017 and 2018 combined than Buckner in his career.If 86’ doesn’t happen is Buckner in the hall of fame? Looking at the numbers he seems fairly qualified. I was too young to see him play. Maybe a conversation for another thread.
Well, ok then. I’ll just leave it at that so this thread doesn’t get de-railedNot even close. Mike Trout had more WAR in 2017 and 2018 combined than Buckner in his career.