Bill Buckner was one of the best contact hitters to play the game, I remember when he played here in Chicago, they interviewed him on his daily routine for every game, he spent 2 hours with his ankles in a whirlpool before every game, just so he could play everyday. No player today would even think about doing that without going on the disabled list
HUGE Bill Buckner fan beginning as a 9 year old in 1980, watching Superstation WGN and followed his career from stop to stop. Thanks for doing the video.
THANK U for doing this. growing up here in Chicago. Bill Buckner#22 and Ryne Sanberg#23. were, and still to THIS DAY. my all-time favorite Cubs. Buckner has MORE career HITS than 70% of the player who are in the baseball HOF. Sanberg thanked Buckner in his HOF speech in 2005.
He was a great player! I watched him in Chicago. At a game, when the Cubs were horrible, he was up to the plate and the other team went to intentionally walk hm. The fans booed. He was the only good player on the Cubs! On the 4th ball, Buckner swung! The crowd cheered! I think he still got walked on the next pitch, but never forgot that day. I was about 12 years old, at the game for my birthday.
It's because of the invention of Cable TV and WGN that I fell in love with the Cubs and my favorite baseball player of all-time, Bill Bucker. He was the BEST. And I'm not even mad that when I got his autograph in the 80s he merely wrote "BB." lol
I met Bill one morning, in the Fall of 1971 at LAVC (Los Angeles Valley College). A double shock when I found both my life long friend Steve Brener, now employed by the Dodgers, standing with Bill Buckner in a hallway, outside an accounting class we both were enrolled in. Smiling, Brener explained that he was in charge of setting Buckner up with the class. Another friend and I sat in the back of the room, and Bill took the desk right in front of us, and subsequently, Bill and I developed a camaraderie of sorts with our mutual interest in baseball. Of course we talked baseball in the mornings, waiting in the hallway for the classroom doors to be opened. One time, talking about the guys on the team, I mentioned my favorite “Steve Garvey”. Buckner bristled a bit, and putting his hand to his crotch, said, "He's a pussy." Shocked, I asked, "What are you talking about!?" Now very serious, deadpanned, "He doesn't go into second and try to break up a double play" Ka-blam! A dose of reality for my naïvete about how teammates don't always "get along". One morning, sitting at our desks waiting for the class to start, Bill had turned around talking, laughing and joking with my friend and me, and I was struck with Inspiration, said, with a surprised look, "You're in good mood today Bill", and followed with "You heard the news, right?" His smile turned to stone. "Whataya mean?" I gave him the "news", "It was on the radio..you were traded" The devastated look hit me like a ton of bricks and immediately told him, "I'm joking Bill..." Now relieved but peeved, said, "Don't ever do that again.." One more thing, to clear up about that "ground ball" incident. Buckner, told me, even in those early LAVC days, that he suffered with gout causing a lot of pain in his ankles. The lateral movement made by Bill to corral that tricky ground ball hit by Mookie Wilson, was extremely painful. To repeat, that high bouncing grounder was not routine. The rank ignorance on the part of "fans" regarding not only that play, but they also ignore the total failure of Boston's bullpen in that sixth game, as well as the failure of Red Sox pitching in the seventh game. One more thing in conclusion: 1973, and the "Big Red Machine" was at Dodger Stadium. I'm in the left field pavilion, and the crowd around me is restless in the late innings. A security "rent-a-cop" is standing below leaning against the railing, and looking up at some rowdies...one of them tosses a cup of ice and it hits the security guy flush on his chest...the crowd psychology takes hold...and that's scary, because I'm with a date....at the very same time, Bill Buckner trying to steal second, slides in hard in an attempt to dislodge the ball, and second baseman Joe Morgan responds by slapping a hard tag on Buckner's face...Bill jumped up swinging, and ALL HELL NOW BREAKS LOOSE...in the melee, I see Pete Rose stumbling over the mound, going down hard..Bill Buckner not only talked the talk, but walked the walk...He was an exceptional hard nosed athlete. .
Not only should his career not be defined by that one play in Game 6, neither should the 1986 World Series. The Red Sox had a 3 run lead in Game 7 for pete's sake. It was one of the most exciting post seasons in baseball history and the media idiotically insisted on making it all about one error...and it wasn't even the deciding game!
Even if he caught it, that ball was going so slowly that nobody would have beaten Mookie to first. The damage was already done by the time of that play, but _even after that,_ Boston had a lead in Game Seven and still blew it. He should never have gotten so much heat for that play.
Thanks for that video. Only wish you could find video of him playing left field for LA. He made several circus catches, to quote Vin Scully. Thanks again, great tribute
Even if he fields that grounder, it's still a tied game. The Mets were at home and their bullpen still had their two best relievers, McDowell and Orozco available, while the Red Sox had already used all their best guys. Nothing is for certain, but the Mets likely win that game anyway.
Bill played on two bad legs all of 1986 and I don't think Boston gets to the WS without him. I remember when he finally came back to Boston, some idiot fan had a sign that said"we forgive you Bill" For what? They treated Bill Russell just as bad.
I stand by the theory that Mookie 100% wouldve been safe. The pitcher is nowhere even near the base as Mookie is rounding at 900 mph. It was hit too slow to an awkward spot and looks like the pitcher got a slow break to first. Not to mention Mookie was obviously absolute lightning down the line.
Never will forgive cubs front office for letting Bill go.leon Durham was no batting champ or gold glove.and for Dave kingmans departure.we might have won a world series in 84 with these two still where they belonged as cubs.
phil, THANK U. I have been saying this since I was 16/1984. a part of me, NEVER forgave Dallas Green for trading a GREAT glove, and batting champ. who did it with the Cubs, on BAD legs. BAD Cub teams. and NO lights. testimony to the man's grit as a GREAT player.
The cubs got Eckersley for rotation depth and Buckner was expendable and much older than Leon Durham. The cubs also had to give up joe Carter for Rick sutcliffe that year because their rotation was seriously lacking. Sometimes you have to trade a competent player like Buckner or Carter if you want something good in return. Eck made a start in the playoffs and sutcliffe won the cy young that year despite getting to the cubs in June…. The best trades are where two teams have a surplus in one position and a deficit in another.
Here is a fun little FACT ! Great as THEY say Mickey Mantle was , he ONLY had [ 4 ] 100 + RBI seasons , Bill had 3 of them & he is sad to be no were close to the SO - called Mic was as a plyer ? BOTH had leg / knee problems . PS Mantle had way MORE years of 100 + K's in a season , then 100 + RBI season ?In fact he was the ALL - TIME MLB leader in CAREER K"S as a batter , when he retired ! Mantle , again was WAY [OVER ] rated as a player ? I'd take at least 15 to 20 OTHER HOF OF"S over him, easy ! And a couple , that are NOT in the HOF , yet !
Bill was out standing. Hitter also took the first pitch almost every time that was a strike usually and still never stuck out also always had bad legs and that ankle wobbled around
Yes he really was Great hitter and the Redsox most definitely would not have been in a position to win the 86 world series of it weren't for him It was Rich Gedmans fault anyway Stanley SUCKED and had no business being on the mound in such a huge situation but that was not a wild pitch
I was a MUCH better player and had a longer, more productive career than Billy. I even taught him how to bat back in Napa Valley....he owes me everything
Bill was an outstanding player. Winning a batting title on one leg. God Bless him...
Bill Buckner was one of the best contact hitters to play the game, I remember when he played here in Chicago, they interviewed him on his daily routine for every game, he spent 2 hours with his ankles in a whirlpool before every game, just so he could play everyday. No player today would even think about doing that without going on the disabled list
HUGE Bill Buckner fan beginning as a 9 year old in 1980, watching Superstation WGN and followed his career from stop to stop. Thanks for doing the video.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
THANK U for doing this. growing up here in Chicago. Bill Buckner#22 and Ryne Sanberg#23. were, and still to THIS DAY. my all-time favorite Cubs. Buckner has MORE career HITS than 70% of the player who are in the baseball HOF. Sanberg thanked Buckner in his HOF speech in 2005.
My favorite was Ferguson and king kong. From the 80s
BB is a hall of famer in my eyes and should be there as a great all around player from America 🇺🇸 where we live free or Die.
What the fffk Billy Buck! That was my Dude ❤ I wore #22 all College & HS
I loved Billy Buck (22) and was my favorite Cub!! Yes he has more hits than 70% of all Hall of Famers!!!
He was a great player! I watched him in Chicago. At a game, when the Cubs were horrible, he was up to the plate and the other team went to intentionally walk hm. The fans booed. He was the only good player on the Cubs! On the 4th ball, Buckner swung! The crowd cheered! I think he still got walked on the next pitch, but never forgot that day. I was about 12 years old, at the game for my birthday.
That’s an awesome memory!
Was.my cub hero when i first began to pay attention to baseball as a kid.
Bill Buckner is my dad's favorite Chicago Cubs player!
he was never on the Cubs. His twin, Ethan was playing as Billy.
Loved him with the cubs.
It's because of the invention of Cable TV and WGN that I fell in love with the Cubs and my favorite baseball player of all-time, Bill Bucker. He was the BEST. And I'm not even mad that when I got his autograph in the 80s he merely wrote "BB." lol
That's awesome!
Gritty player, great guy❤
Nice tribute!
Thank you!
Buckner had a .991 fielding percentage. He was an excellent fielder.
You're correct, that 1 play should not define his career, but he should have been sat down for a defensive replacement for that inning
He was an awesome player. Overall great video! Just one technical error that I noticed-he was traded by the Cubs to the Red Sox on May 25, 1984.
My favorite player
Was living right outside of Chicago when he played for the cubs. Best deal in baseball was the bleachers at Wrigley Field.
my favorite Cub and he did it all on one leg
My favorite and underrated Cub!!!!
I met Bill one morning, in the Fall of 1971 at LAVC (Los Angeles Valley College). A double shock when I found both my life long friend Steve Brener, now employed by the Dodgers, standing with Bill Buckner in a hallway, outside an accounting class we both were enrolled in. Smiling, Brener explained that he was in charge of setting Buckner up with the class. Another friend and I sat in the back of the room, and Bill took the desk right in front of us, and subsequently, Bill and I developed a camaraderie of sorts with our mutual interest in baseball.
Of course we talked baseball in the mornings, waiting in the hallway for the classroom doors to be opened. One time, talking about the guys on the team, I mentioned my favorite “Steve Garvey”. Buckner bristled a bit, and putting his hand to his crotch, said, "He's a pussy." Shocked, I asked, "What are you talking about!?" Now very serious, deadpanned, "He doesn't go into second and try to break up a double play" Ka-blam! A dose of reality for my naïvete about how teammates don't always "get along".
One morning, sitting at our desks waiting for the class to start, Bill had turned around talking, laughing and joking with my friend and me, and I was struck with Inspiration, said, with a surprised look, "You're in good mood today Bill", and followed with "You heard the news, right?" His smile turned to stone. "Whataya mean?" I gave him the "news", "It was on the radio..you were traded" The devastated look hit me like a ton of bricks and immediately told him, "I'm joking Bill..." Now relieved but peeved, said, "Don't ever do that again.."
One more thing, to clear up about that "ground ball" incident. Buckner, told me, even in those early LAVC days, that he suffered with gout causing a lot of pain in his ankles. The lateral movement made by Bill to corral that tricky ground ball hit by Mookie Wilson, was extremely painful. To repeat, that high bouncing grounder was not routine. The rank ignorance on the part of "fans" regarding not only that play, but they also ignore the total failure of Boston's bullpen in that sixth game, as well as the failure of Red Sox pitching in the seventh game.
One more thing in conclusion:
1973, and the "Big Red Machine" was at Dodger Stadium. I'm in the left field pavilion, and the crowd around me is restless in the late innings. A security "rent-a-cop" is standing below leaning against the railing, and looking up at some rowdies...one of them tosses a cup of ice and it hits the security guy flush on his chest...the crowd psychology takes hold...and that's scary, because I'm with a date....at the very same time, Bill Buckner trying to steal second, slides in hard in an attempt to dislodge the ball, and second baseman Joe Morgan responds by slapping a hard tag on Buckner's face...Bill jumped up swinging, and ALL HELL NOW BREAKS LOOSE...in the melee, I see Pete Rose stumbling over the mound, going down hard..Bill Buckner not only talked the talk, but walked the walk...He was an exceptional hard nosed athlete. .
Thank you for sharing!
Not only should his career not be defined by that one play in Game 6, neither should the 1986 World Series. The Red Sox had a 3 run lead in Game 7 for pete's sake. It was one of the most exciting post seasons in baseball history and the media idiotically insisted on making it all about one error...and it wasn't even the deciding game!
Even if he caught it, that ball was going so slowly that nobody would have beaten Mookie to first. The damage was already done by the time of that play, but _even after that,_ Boston had a lead in Game Seven and still blew it. He should never have gotten so much heat for that play.
Thanks for that video. Only wish you could find video of him playing left field for LA. He made several circus catches, to quote Vin Scully. Thanks again, great tribute
Have to look for those gems in LA
Even if he fields that grounder, it's still a tied game. The Mets were at home and their bullpen still had their two best relievers, McDowell and Orozco available, while the Red Sox had already used all their best guys. Nothing is for certain, but the Mets likely win that game anyway.
Bill played on two bad legs all of 1986 and I don't think Boston gets to the WS without him. I remember when he finally came back to Boston, some idiot fan had a sign that said"we forgive you Bill" For what? They treated Bill Russell just as bad.
The idea that anybody would’ve had it even in their thoughts to kill this man is sickening.
I stand by the theory that Mookie 100% wouldve been safe. The pitcher is nowhere even near the base as Mookie is rounding at 900 mph. It was hit too slow to an awkward spot and looks like the pitcher got a slow break to first. Not to mention Mookie was obviously absolute lightning down the line.
Never will forgive cubs front office for letting Bill go.leon Durham was no batting champ or gold glove.and for Dave kingmans departure.we might have won a world series in 84 with these two still where they belonged as cubs.
But the Cubs won it all in 2016. So why dwell on the past? Silly
phil, THANK U. I have been saying this since I was 16/1984. a part of me, NEVER forgave Dallas Green for trading a GREAT glove, and batting champ. who did it with the Cubs, on BAD legs. BAD Cub teams. and NO lights. testimony to the man's grit as a GREAT player.
The cubs got Eckersley for rotation depth and Buckner was expendable and much older than Leon Durham. The cubs also had to give up joe Carter for Rick sutcliffe that year because their rotation was seriously lacking. Sometimes you have to trade a competent player like Buckner or Carter if you want something good in return. Eck made a start in the playoffs and sutcliffe won the cy young that year despite getting to the cubs in June….
The best trades are where two teams have a surplus in one position and a deficit in another.
Yeah, could you imagine Buckner getting on with a double, and Kingman hitting one to Evanston?
Maybe take a cue from Bill, who forgave the Boston media, and forgive Dallas Greene?
He always seemed to be a walking Greek tragedy.
He had major league eyebrows.
He actually has more hits than lou gehrig
Here is a fun little FACT ! Great as THEY say Mickey Mantle was , he ONLY had [ 4 ] 100 + RBI seasons , Bill had 3 of them & he is sad to be no were close to the SO - called Mic was as a plyer ? BOTH had leg / knee problems . PS Mantle had way MORE years of 100 + K's in a season , then 100 + RBI season ?In fact he was the ALL - TIME MLB leader in CAREER K"S as a batter , when he retired ! Mantle , again was WAY [OVER ] rated as a player ? I'd take at least 15 to 20 OTHER HOF OF"S over him, easy ! And a couple , that are NOT in the HOF , yet !
All great points!
Bill was out standing. Hitter also took the first pitch almost every time that was a strike usually and still never stuck out also always had bad legs and that ankle wobbled around
Yes he really was
Great hitter and the Redsox most definitely would not have been in a position to win the 86 world series of it weren't for him
It was Rich Gedmans fault anyway
Stanley SUCKED and had no business being on the mound in such a huge situation but that was not a wild pitch
he was alright, played a long time, not a very good defender at first, and a pretty good hitter
Except when the game is on the line and he is playing first base.
I was a MUCH better player and had a longer, more productive career than Billy. I even taught him how to bat back in Napa Valley....he owes me everything
Good hitter but terrible fielder ruining that WS game. Should have been removed for a better first baseman in that late inning⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️