Is Billy Buckner still a scapegoat?

Question

Or have the Red Sox's last two championships wiped his mistakes from memory?

Answer 1

He's off the hook with 2 championships by the Bosox since 1986. It was never his fault anyway - all the Sox pitchers had to do was get one more out and instead allowed 3 straight hits before allowing the grounder to Buckner...

Answer 2

I think he is still considered a scapegoat and still frowned upon by many Red Sox fans, but with "Red Sox Nation" spreading like wildfire and the popularity of baseball reaching new heights with young kids Buckner is largely forgotten.

Many fans have been born post 1986, and the fans either don't understand the torture that Sox fans went through previous to 2004 or don't know the "whole" history behind the curse. I still feel most fans who are now in their late forties or early fifties still dislike Buckner due to the fact that Red Sox fans hearts had been torn out so many times and it was always easier to blame Buckner then to examine the real reason the Red Sox never won the World Series for 86 years.

Answer 3

I think he has been forgiven.....But not forgotten....I remember that play like it happened last night I was 12 and I my best friend at the time was a die hard mets fan he called me on the phone yelling screaming I thought the kid was going to have a stroke!!

Buckner should have never ever been in the starting line up that game he was so broken down its a shame that play is what he will always be remembered for and he was a great ball player!!

Answer 4

I was 11 when the Sox lost in 1986.

I've NEVER played Buckner.

The bums were the following (in this order):

1. John McNamara - always replaced Buckner with Dave Stapleton in late innings as a defensive replacement. He kept Buckner in this time so he'd be on the field when the Sox won it (to reward him for a good year and career.)

2. Bob Stanley - came in with 2 outs and proceeded to throw a wild pitch to Mookie Wilson that scored the tying run (Kevin Mitchell) and put Ray Knight in scoring position.
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Answer 5

Unfortunately yes. It's too bad because Buckner was an excellent baseball player. The day he booted that grounder from Mookie Wilson, he should never have been in the lineup. He was so hurt physically (legs) that he should have been removed from the game for defensive purposes. It's as much the managers fault as anyone else.

Answer 6

He's still a scapegoat. He had to move from Massachusetts after that series.

Answer 7

The curse is over...all before 04 is forgiven

Answer 8

yeah pretty much, he has pretty much been forgotten by a lot of Beantown fans.

Answer 9

Always will be.