Buckner's Awkward Re-Return To Fenway

DAULERIO — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Today the Boston Red Sox opened up Fenway Park to begin an afternoon of self-congratulatory ring ceremonies and opening day festivities. Who would throw out the first pitch, though, was, kept secret until a couple hours before game time when the rumors started to appear online that it would be ... Bill Buckner. It's an odd moment; Buckner half-heartedly strolls out to the pitcher's mound, pulling his hands in and out of his pockets, a little unsure of exactly how he's supposed to react in this situation.

I guess it's not really the appropriate time where you sprint out to the mound, but dude, honestly, he's walking out there like he just let the ball go threw his legs again. Then again ... that is the only reason he's out there. So, in reality, he has to make that long fucking walk again (longer even) to get publicly, figuratively "forgiven" for something that wasn't even his fault in the first place. This almost seems like a cruel joke.

And also, it's not like this guy has been in a nuthouse for the past 22 years, stabbing a Bruce Hurst voodoo doll made out of toenails. Remember — he's been back to Fenway since the whole Mookie Wilson boot. He even played for the Red Sox again in 1990. So, sure this was a nice gesture and all to let the once chronically embittered Sox fans give this guy a completely orchestrated hero's welcome back, but it's a little late, don't you think? It wouldn't have surprised me at all had Bill Buckner just walked right out to the pitcher's mound, dropped his pants and deuced one right on the rosin bag.

In fact, he definitely would've been forgiven for that. At least, by the rest of the world.

Buckner throws out first pitch at Fenway [Boston.com]

Tell Them Billy Buck Is Here

rickchand — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:10:49 EST

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Bill Buckner's infamous error in the 1986 World Series. We've always imagined him as a tragic figure, forever haunted by that moment, perhaps wandering the Pacific Northwest in a faded Red Sox jacket looking for a handout, like Sylvester Stallone in the opening scenes of the first Rambo movie. But that's far from the truth, says Boston Magazine's John Wolfson:

The problem with Bill Buckner is that when he's not trying to forget about that softly skipping grounder, he's scheming to squeeze every last nickel out of it. Every so often, an overnight package arrives on the doorstep of Buckner's house in Boise, Idaho. Stuffed inside are hundreds of copies of the same photo: The ball is already past Buckner, the first base umpire is thrusting out his arm to indicate a fair ball, and Mookie Wilson is in full sprint for the bag. These pictures await only the few alchemic strokes of Buckner's autograph marker that will transform them into gold. He and Wilson have an exclusive deal with a New York memorabilia company that sells the signed photos: $99 for an 8-by-10, $119 for a 16-by-20.

Buckner and Wilson, it seems, also have a deal with Steiner Sports Marketing, in which they appear together at signing events in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut for autograph signings. Actually, this kind of makes us glad. Why should Buckner suffer for one moment that, really, wasn't even his fault. Even Michael Dukakis knew that:

Of all the painful Red Sox moments, I'll never understand it. Buckner was a hell of a ballplayer. Gutsy. But he could barely run. And we had an excellent defensive first baseman named Dave Stapleton. Why McNamara didn't put him in for the 10th inning...

And if Dukakis could figure it out, couldn't everybody?

Leave It To Buckner [Boston Magazine]

Deadspin: bill buckner

Buckner's Awkward Re-Return To Fenway

Tell Them Billy Buck Is Here