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Billy Buck

Bill Buckner, doesn't owe Red Sox fans anything.  There’s no need to apologize and there no need for any forgiveness.  The Red Sox blew the 1986 World Series, not Bill Buckner.

I could not have been happier at the sight of Buckner walking towards the mound from left field to throw out the first pitch.  I was quite surprised he accepted, but I’m glad he did.  For years, Buckner has let it be known that he wasn’t interested in accepting forgiveness because he always felt he didn’t need any, because he didn’t do anything wrong and he is right.

Now before I go too far here, any real Red Sox fan knows that it wasn’t Buckner that caused the Red Sox to lose game 6.  There were many events and bad plays in that game that collectively led to the Red Sox defeat.  Real Red Sox fans know how games are won and lost and realize it is a team sport.

The media, on the other hand, had to take Buckner’s game 6 error and run it up the flag pole for the past 21 years.  They made money off of that play, but they didn’t convince real Red Sox fans.  Buckner has nothing to apologize for.

Yesterday after the game, Kevin Youkilis had some interesting words about Buckner and Red Sox fans.

I’ve probably never almost been in tears for somebody else on the baseball field.  I think it was just the most unbelievable thing.  It shows how great of a man Bill Buckner is.

There’s not too many people that can do what he did today and face thousands of people that booed him, threatened his life.  For a man to step out there on the field, it shows how much of a man he is.  I tip my cap.  I just wanted to shake his hand because that’s a true man in life.

I appreciate his feelings toward Buckner, but I’m not sure I agree about the fans booing him and threatening his life.  Now I have to cut Youkilis some slack, he was 7 years old when game 6 of the 1986 World Series was played, so he really can’t be considered a reliable witness, but if he were to investigate things, he’d realize Buckner never was booed at Fenway Park.  In fact, he played 75 games for Boston in 1987 and returned again in 1990. He didn’t get booed.  Sure perhaps by a select for nitwits, but not as a whole.

The media grew the storyline about him being hated here in Boston, not the fans.  Youkilis needs to research this a bit.

Buckner said as much himself.

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 for what they put me and my family through.  So you know, I’ve done that and I’m over that.

Well Bill, maybe the media will let this one die too.  But if not, who cares, you have always known and will continue to know that Red Sox fans appreciate all you gave to the Red Sox and baseball and you’ll never have to apologize for a thing around here.

Comments

Andy,

I think the guy and surely his family suffered quite a bit for being the symbol of a failure. Yep you are absolutely right it was not his "fault", it was the team's, but he became the poster boy for al of it. Imagine what his family, his kids, had to endure when out in public? Yep, that's what media muffins can do to people.

Baseball players (and I've known more than a few Sox players as true friends, amazingly enough) know that they are subject to being public figures at all times. When it comes into their homes, they really REALLY don't like that aspect - at all. For Billy Buck, it was reportedly so bad that he moved his entire family out to Boise, Idaho to get some much needed distance.

I'm glad that the Fenway Faithful and maybe the media muffins will finally make peace with the man and his family and then let this go, once and for all. Good !!!

Mitchell, it was Idaho, wasn't it. I had commented on a previous post that it was Montana. Either way, to have to proot 2500 miles to escape the nonsense is sad.

I really hope the media and any yahoos out there, can find a better use of time.

Interesting that you have known Red Sox players (I won't ask you to name names). That is great. One of my friends use to manage an office in Boston and when they had to replace/move some furniture, in walked former Red Sox Jeff Plympton. He's a furniture guy now (short stint in MLB). That's about as close as I've gotten to a Red Sox player...

Yeah, it was Idaho and it's four ex-players. Good guys all - funny as hell when they get together and start razzing each other about some real or imagined screw ups - and the hitters are brutal to the pitcher who pals with us - and he returns the razzing favor in spades. It is a riot.

The best part is that they forgave me quickly for being an ex-NYer and a life long Yankees fan. In order to keep things simple when we go out, I never wear either a Yankees cap or or NY Jints cap. I don't need them getting into a brawl on my account - nor do our wives. I typically won't wear the NY "colors" around here anyway, just when I travel outside the region. Life is MUCH simpler that way (LOL).

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