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EXTRA INNINGS a Life Lesson from Bill Buckner

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EXTRA INNINGS a Life Lesson from Bill Buckner EXTRA INNINGS A Life Lesson from Bill Buckner He had more base hits than Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Duke Snider, Don Mattingly, and other great hitters. Amassing 2,715 base hits in his career, he was ranked at #66 all-time (out of about 20,000). In 1980, while playing for the Chicago Cubs, he was the National League batting champion. He never struck out more than 39 times in a season, or more than two times in a game—both records. This 1981 All-Star was also a speedy runner, leading the league in doubles—twice—and was among leaders in stolen bases. In his 22 seasons, he had 1,208 RBIs, 174 home runs and 183 stolen bases. Most players would love to have that kind of career. But when Bill Buckner died in 2019 after battling Lewy Body dementia, the evening news and sports pages would focus on one error that he committed over 50 years ago. This story takes place when he was playing first base for the Boston Red Sox. October 25, 1986. Boston vs. the New York Mets in New York, the sixth game of the World Series. The Red Sox had a 3-2 series lead. Bottom of the 10th inning, Boston leading 5-3, one out away from being World Champions. Mets score two runs to tie the game, putting the go-ahead run on second. The Mets’ Mookie Wilson hit a roller to Buckner at first base that bounced off his glove, through his legs into the outfield, scoring the winning run. See the setting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ujwjqIldwU The Mets went on to win the seventh game and the World Series. The Boston fans and the media cursed and heaped insults on Buckner for days, years, and even decades. People dumped garbage on his lawn, mocked him, threatened him, wished him to “burn in hell”. After the season baseball analysts saw many reasons Buckner should not be blamed, including Bob Stanley’s wild pitch that let the tying run score, prolonging the game. Regardless of other reasons, the blame was heaped on Buckner. He had more good years of playing baseball and coaching, then retired to a ranch near Boise, Idaho. He denied that he moved there to get away from the Boston media, but his wife Jody said it was nice to live in a place where “nobody talked to Bill in a derogatory way”. Forty years after that World Series game, in 2008, the Red Sox invited Buckner back to throw out the first pitch of their season opener. In an ironic twist, the fans now gave him a two-minute standing ovation, bringing tears to his eyes. Buckner refused to let one mistake define who he was, both as a player and a person. He got involved in the Boise area, throwing his support behind ministries like the Boise Rescue Mission, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and others. He gladly let non-profits auction off “fly fishing trips with Bill Buckner” to raise funds. He was also popular on the motivational speaking circuit, promoting Christian values. He served as the hitting coach for the minor league Boise Hawks in 2012 and 2013, passing on his skills and values to young players. Gary Van Tol, manager of the Hawks at the time, and now coach of the Boise State Broncos baseball team, described what a great coach Buckner was, “But more importantly he taught me humility, dignity, grace, and patience. He will be missed but his legacy will live on. A devoted Christian, his strong faith was always present. He's now with his Savior”. Yahoo Sports said of Buckner, “he showed the world how to handle a permanent burden with grace. He deserves to be remembered for that, too.” Buckner demonstrated that it is not the unfair circumstances, but our response to them, that determines our real legacy. Pete Aman 6/4/19 .
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