Baseball Legend Bill Buckner Has Died (VIDEO)
Boston Red Sox legend Bill Buckner has died at the age of 69, ESPN has reported.
Buckner spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, but it was during his time with the Red Sox that he earned baseball infamy.
In 1986, as a first baseman for Boston in the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets, Buckner made a crucial error by allowing a grounder to roll between his legs. Boston went on to lose the game, and eventually the series. At the time, it had been 68 years since the Red Sox had won a championship. Boston wouldn’t win the World Series for another 18 years.
According to his family, Buckner was suffering from dementia at the time of his passing.
“After battling the disease of Lewy Body Dementia, Bill Buckner passed away early the morning of May 27th surrounded by his family,” a family statement read. “Bill fought with courage and grit as he did all things in life. Our hearts are broken but we are at peace knowing he is in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
His 21-year career that began in 1969 and included stints with six teams, He was an All-Star and won the batting title in 1980. Buckner amassed a career batting average of .289, 2,715 hits, 1,208 RBIs, 1,077 runs scored and 174 home runs. During the 1970s and 1980s, only Pete Rose had more hits than he did.
Buckner began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and then moved to the Chicago Cubs. In 1984, he joined the Boston Red Sox.
Although most Boston fans blamed him for the World Series loss to the Mets, his teammates pointed out that Boston would have never made it to the World Series without him. “No one played harder than Bill. No one prepared themselves as well as Bill Buckner did, and no one wanted to win as much as Bill Buckner,” Red Sox right fielder Dwight Evans said.
In 2008, the Red Sox welcomed Buckner back to throw out a first pitch, in an emotional moment that provided some closure for all involved. “I really had to forgive, not the fans of Boston, per se, but I would have to say in my heart I had to forgive the media,” Buckner said. “For what they put me and my family through. So, you know, I’ve done that and I’m over that.”
Bill Buckner is survived by his wife, Jody, and three children, Brittany, Christen and Bobby.
Our condolences to the family and friends of Bill Buckner.
Source: ESPN
