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If Nice Guys Finish Last, Where Do Nice Fans Finish?
Bill Buckner’s passing reminds us that most sports goats are not at fault for their errors. But what about the players who escape criticism for their gaffes?
Bill Buckner passed away Monday at the relatively young age of 69.
He is remembered, of course, as the first baseman who Mookie Wilson’s easy ground ball went through the legs of, thus allowing the New York Mets to complete a stunning 2-out, bottom of the 10th inning rally which allowed them to win Game Six of the 1986 World Series 6–5.
It’s a bad rap. Buckner was the 1980 National League batting champion. When he was traded to Boston from the Chicago Cubs in 1984, he filled the hole in the Red Sox lineup left by Carl Yastrzemski, drove in 100 runs in back to back seasons, and in his career consistently made contact, never striking out as much as 40 times in a season.
Ironically, after the Cubs traded him away they lost the 1984 National League Championship Series in large part to a ground ball that went through the legs of Buckner’s replacement at first base, Leon Durham.
Funny, though, how most sports goats, upon further examination, aren’t really goats. Often times they are merely the victim of strategic blunders by the coaching staff.
