Bill Buckner Passes

[TKG]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26832836/bill-buckner-dies-69-battling-dementia

[chrishoke]

I will always remember him for this. Thanks Larry David.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9RLQK_BbZg

[bullettoothtony]

RIP to a good man undeserving of the vitriol he received from too many overzealous, unsympathetic and obdurate fanatics.

[Reilly]

Of fans who know he committed an error in the World Series, what percentage realize that the game was tied? My sense is many think that the outcome of that play was the difference between winning and losing, when it was not -- it was the difference between remaining tied, or losing.

That play was not even the most significant -- statistically -- of the at-bat: Stanley's wild pitch increased NY's win probability 41%, whereas Buckner's error increased it 40%.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610250.shtml

[AZLA]

I will always remember him for this. Thanks Larry David.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9RLQK_BbZg

Thanks for sharing. It's a good way to remember...

These neurological diseases are just brutal.

Buckner is a good sport above all and had a great career.

[jimsumner]

It's awful to be remembered for your worst day, especially when you had a long and distinguished career, as did Buckner.

I'm reminded of Tom Zachary, an Alamance County native who pitched 19 years in the majors and won 186 games. But Zachary is the guy who gave up Babe Ruth's 60th home run in 1927.

Zachary always said that when he died his obituary would lead with Ruth's 60th.

Sure enough, when he died, his obits all had some variation of "pitcher who allowed Ruth's 60th."

As an aside, why don't more people blame Bob Stanley for the wild pitch that tied the game? If Buckner is in hall of shame, along with Fred Merkle, Mickey Owen, Don Denkinger, Mario Mendoza and others, then why isn't Stanley?

But I digress. A marvelous career. May he RIP.

[Blue KevIL]

It's awful to be remembered for your worst day, especially when you had a long and distinguished career, as did Buckner.

I'm reminded of Tom Zachary, an Alamance County native who pitched 19 years in the majors and won 186 games. But Zachary is the guy who gave up Babe Ruth's 60th home run in 1927.

Zachary always said that when he died his obituary would lead with Ruth's 60th.

Sure enough, when he died, his obits all had some variation of "pitcher who allowed Ruth's 60th."

As an aside, why don't more people blame Bob Stanley for the wild pitch that tied the game? If Buckner is in hall of shame, along with Fred Merkle, Mickey Owen, Don Denkinger, Mario Mendoza and others, then why isn't Stanley?

But I digress. A marvelous career. May he RIP.

Seasons: 22
At Bats: 9397
Games: 2517
Hits: 2715

Buckner never struck out more than 2 times in any game.
That is unbelievable. Even Tony Gwynn had one game with 3 strikeouts.

[sagegrouse]

Of fans who know he committed an error in the World Series, what percentage realize that the game was tied? My sense is many think that the outcome of that play was the difference between winning and losing, when it was not -- it was the difference between remaining tied, or losing.

That play was not even the most significant -- statistically -- of the at-bat: Stanley's wild pitch increased NY's win probability 41%, whereas Buckner's error increased it 40%.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610250.shtml

What I remember most from watching the game is that the Boston pitchers, nursing a big lead, started throwing batting-practice fastballs to the Mets' hitters, hoping someone in the field would make a play. No guts.

My memories of Bill Buckner with the Dodgers in 1973-75 is that he was a good all-around player. I remember him crashing into the left-field railing going after a ball, getting up and throwing it into the infield -- then collapsing on the field. Really courageous.

[bullettoothtony]

Seasons: 22
At Bats: 9397
Games: 2517
Hits: 2715

Buckner never struck out more than 2 times in any game.
That is unbelievable. Even Tony Gwynn had one game with 3 strikeouts.


Great stat. For additional reference, I read this earlier:

On Sunday, the last full day of Buckner's life, 16 major league players struck out 3 times.

Bill Buckner never did that in 22 seasons.