BOSTON — Former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner has a lot of memories from the 1986 season, and several don’t have anything to do with the World Series or his infamous Game 6 error.
The seven-game American League Championship Series versus the California Angels is one example.
“Most of (the memories) are good, obviously one of them wasn’t,” Buckner said Wednesday before the 1986 Red Sox team was honored at Fenway Park. “That year, beating the Angels, that was the most exciting. That Game 5 was the most exciting game I was ever in. (Dave Henderson) hitting the home run, that was the magic moment of my career. It was a lot of fun. A lot of good memories.”
The Red Sox trailed the Angels 3-1 in the series entering Game 5 in Anaheim. Henderson hit a two-run homer with Boston down to its last strike in the top of the ninth inning, and the Red Sox won 7-6 in 11 innings.
The Red Sox returned home for the final two games of the series and won both contests by a combined score of 18-5.
Boston advanced to the World Series to play the New York Mets, who also won a memorable LCS in seven games. The season didn’t end how Buckner had envisioned, but it didn’t take away from an enjoyable and very successful career.
“I played 22 years in the big leagues,” Buckner said. “If you would have asked me if I’d be OK with playing 22 years, winning a batting title, playing in two World Series, getting 200 hits in both leagues, but you played in a World Series game and made an error, are you good with that? I’d say, damn right I’m good with that.”
Thumbnail photo via YouTube/MLB
