Bill Buckner
| Bill Buckner | |
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| First baseman | |
| Born: December 14, 1949 in Vallejo , United States 
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| Died on: May 27, 2019 Boise , United States
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| Suggested: Left | Threw: Left |
| Debut in Major League Baseball | |
| September 21, 1969 at the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Last MLB assignment | |
| May 30, 1990 with the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (until end of career) |
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| Batting average | .289 |
| Home runs | 174 |
| Hits | 2,715 |
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William Joseph "Bill" Buckner , nickname Billy Buck , (born December 14, 1949 in Vallejo , California - † May 27, 2019 in Boise , Idaho ) was an American baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , California Angels and Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball (MLB) as first baseman . Despite a long and successful career, he was best known for a game- changing mistake in the 6th game of the 1986 World Series .
Career
In his youth, Buckner successfully played not only baseball but also American football . After a promising career in minor league baseball , he made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969 , but could not initially play in his regular position as first baseman or left fielder in the starting lineup. On April 8, 1971, he was an extra in one of the biggest baseball moments of the year, when Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run over Buckner . After seven years as a reserve player, Buckner was given up to the Chicago Cubs. With the weak Cubs, Buckner established himself as one of the few bright spots when, despite chronic ankle problems , he was voted into the MLB All-Star Game in 1980 after a strong season ( batting average of .324, plus ten home runs) . In 1984 he was transferred to the Boston Red Sox and reached with them the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets , where he made a major blunder in the 6th game in the 10th inning . With two outs , Mets player Mookie Wilson hit a harmless ground ball in Buckner's direction, but Buckner, who had ankle problems, let the ball slip through his legs, giving third base Met Ray Knight points and New York winning the game. After the Red Sox lost the final series, Buckner was booed by his own fans until he joined the California Angels and later the Kansas City Royals . In 1990 he returned to the Red Sox for his senior year and received a standing ovation on his return .
Buckner has been branded the sole scapegoat since his mistake in the 6th game of the 1986 World Series, although the Red Sox gambled away a two-point lead in the 10th inning. Before pitcher had Calvin Schiraldi consecutive three hits and his agent Bob Stanley with a wild pitch let the Mets come back into play also Red Sox coach had John McNamara option, the chronically footsore Buckner by Dave Stapleton to be replaced. In a 2008 interview, Buckner was asked why it had taken so long for he and the Red Sox to make peace. Buckner replied that he "would never have forgiven the Boston media for what they had done to his family and him since 1986".
Private life
Buckner had two daughters and a son with his wife Jody. He died of Lewy body dementia on May 27, 2019 .
Web links
- Player information and statistics from MLB or ESPN or baseball reference or fangraphs or baseball reference (minor league) (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Amalie Benjamin: An emotional day for Bill Buckner. In: The Boston Globe . April 8, 2008, accessed May 29, 2019 .
- ↑ Charlotte K .: Baseball star Bill Buckner († 69) died of dementia. In: Promiflash . May 27, 2019, accessed May 27, 2019 .
- ↑ Bill Buckner dies at 69 after battling dementia. In: ESPN . May 27, 2019, accessed May 29, 2019 .
| personal data | |
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| SURNAME | Buckner, Bill |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Buckner, William Joseph (full name); Billy Buck (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American baseball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 14, 1949 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Vallejo , California |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 27, 2019 |
| Place of death | Boise , Idaho |