1986: Bill Buckner, great player but a bad moment in game 6

On this day in 1986, the Boston Red Sox were one out away from winning the World Series.     

And then the unthinkable happened when a routine ground ball went between Bill Buckner's legs.   

It was a case of very bad luck for a great player like Buckner.   

Bill Buckner hit .289 with 2,715 hits and a .408 on-base average.   In other words, there was a lot more to his career than missing that ground ball in game 6 of the 1986 World Series.  

He was a tough out, a great competitor and the kind of guy that you wanted on your team.  

Tough day for a great major league player.

  

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1986: Bill Russell retired from the Dodgers

From 1974 to 1986, Bill Russell was the Dodgers' shortstop.   It was Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey and Russell who made up that wonderful infield.   

The Dodgers won the NL pennant in 1974, 1977, and 1978.   LA finally won in 1981!

Russell broke with LA in 1969 and became the regular shortstop in 1972.   He retired in 1986 with 1,926 hits and a .263 batting average.

We will remember Russell and the other 3 as that steady Dodgers' infield:  they combined for 21 All-Star game appearances!

 

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.