I was watching ESPN Original Documentaries the other night and came across the heart wrenching story of former Boston Red Sox’s First Baseman, Bill Buckner.

It took the Boston Red Sox organization two and a half decades to finally convince him to return to Fenway Park.

Bill Buckner will always be remembered in Sox Nation for a fielding error that some fans – until this day – believe eventually cost Boston a World Series.

Boston did win two World Series after that faithful night, but fans never fully forgave him for the error.

I just hate to think how Red Sox Nation would still be treating the man they associated with the Curse of the Bambino, if they had not won those two World Series.

Bill Buckner cried as he walked to the pitching mound in 2008 to a thunderous standing ovation and threw the ceremonial first pitch,

And…he cried once again during the post game press conference.

Time and a couple of world championships should had heal the old wounds, but even after the former Red Sox First Baseman said,

“It doesn’t hurt,”

…Yet had the look of man who had just come out of a witness protection program.

You could still hear and feel the hurt in his voice and how did that one single moment forever changed his life.

“…life is not all good things. You’ve got to rebound”, Bill Buckner continued “…enjoy the good when you got it”.

He sounded like a man very much still haunted by the error which has made him MLB’s All-Time Scapegoat.

Buckner volunteered that he does not enjoy watching replays of the error on television.

I can only imagine how brutal his life has been all these years and all of the nightmares he has endured. No matter what he said I know!, that you just can’t make settlements with that kind of pain.

“As a Boston sports fan, that is one of the 3-4 worst moments. I don’t blame Billy Buc, I blame the manager for keeping him in the game. He had a great season and a borderline Hall of Fame career. The other bad moments: Dent’s homer, Boone’s Homer, Tyree’s catch. What do they all have in common? New York teams, Each!!!.”, BB

“I was a huge Red Sox fan in 1986….and the thing I am amazed about is that people do not remember that the game was tied when he made the error. By the time the error happened….the cows had already left the barn….the closer had already blown the save and the manager made some horrible decisions in the 9th inning….so in my opinion even if Buckner had not made the error….the game probably would have ended with a Mets win. People seem to think if Buckner had gotten the ball and stepped on first base…the RedSox would have won the World Series….it just is not true.

The best quote I have ever heard about the ending of this game…came from the author Steven King and lifelong Red Sox fan…..”After the game ended…I turned off all the lights in my house, sat in the dark and asked God …what have I done to deserve this”, BC

“ May your troubles be less and your blessings be more…Billy Buc”, Julio

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Making The Cut With Mook ~ Marcus Washington