View source for Bill Buckner

{{Short description|American baseball player (1949–2019)}}
{{For|the Major League Baseball pitcher|Billy Buckner}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name           = Bill Buckner
|position       = [[First baseman]] / [[Outfielder]]
|image          = Bill Buckner of the Boston Red Sox.jpg
|caption        = Buckner with the Boston Red Sox, c. 1986
|bats           = Left
|throws         = Left
|birth_date     = {{Birth date|1949|12|14}} 
|birth_place    = [[Vallejo, California]], U.S.
|death_date     = {{Death date and age|2019|5|27|1949|12|14}}
|death_place    = [[Boise, Idaho]], U.S.
|debutleague    = MLB
|debutdate      = September 21
|debutyear      = 1969
|debutteam      = Los Angeles Dodgers
|finalleague    = MLB
|finaldate      = May 30
|finalyear      = 1990
|finalteam      = Boston Red Sox
|statleague     = MLB
|stat1label     = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value     = .289
|stat2label     = [[Hit (baseball)|Hit]]s
|stat2value     = 2,715
|stat3label     = [[Home run]]s
|stat3value     = 174
|stat4label     = [[Runs batted in]]
|stat4value     = 1,208
|teams=
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1976}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1977}}–{{mlby|1984}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1984}}–{{mlby|1987}})
* [[California Angels]] ({{mlby|1987}}–{{mlby|1988}})
* [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|1988}}–{{mlby|1989}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1990}})
|highlights=
*[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1981]])
*[[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|NL batting champion]] (1980)
* [[Chicago Cubs#Cubs Hall of Fame|Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame]]
}}

'''William Joseph Buckner''' (December 14, 1949 – May 27, 2019) was an American [[first baseman]] and [[left fielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) who played for five teams from {{baseball year|1969}} through {{baseball year|1990}}, most notably the [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], and [[Boston Red Sox]]. Beginning his career as an outfielder with the Dodgers, Buckner helped the team to the {{baseball year|1974}} pennant with a .314 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], but a serious ankle injury the next year led to his trade to the Cubs before the {{baseball year|1977}} season. The Cubs moved him to first base, and he won the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting title]] with a .324 mark in 1980. He was named to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team the following year as he led the major leagues in [[double (baseball)|doubles]]. After setting a major league record for first basemen with 159 [[assist (baseball)|assists]] in {{baseball year|1982}}, Buckner surpassed that total with 161 in {{baseball year|1983}} while again leading the NL in doubles. Feuds with team management over a loss of playing time resulted in him being traded to the Red Sox in the middle of the {{baseball year|1984}} season.

During the {{baseball year|1985}} season, Buckner started all 162 games and shattered his own record with 184 assists. Toward the end of the {{baseball year|1986}} season, he was hobbled by leg injuries and struggled throughout the playoffs. His [[Bill Buckner's 1986 World Series error|tenth-inning error]] in Game 6 of the [[1986 World Series]] against the [[New York Mets]] remains one of the most memorable plays in baseball history; it was long considered part of a [[Curse of the Bambino|curse on the Red Sox]] that kept them from winning the World Series for 86 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206071453/http://archive.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/8.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 6, 2007|title=The Sporting News Selects Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments, #8 E-3|first1=Ron|last1=Smith|author2=Foreword by Joe Morgan|work=[[The Sporting News]]|date=1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Vecsey|first=George|title=Babe Ruth Curse Strikes Again|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/28/sports/sports-of-the-times-babe-ruth-curse-strikes-again.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513061133/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/28/sports/sports-of-the-times-babe-ruth-curse-strikes-again.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 28, 1986}}</ref> and led to years of fan anger and public mockery that Buckner handled graciously before being embraced by Red Sox fans again after their [[2004 World Series]] victory.

After spending his last few seasons with the [[California Angels]], [[Kansas City Royals]], and Red Sox, Buckner became the 21st player in major league history to [[List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades|play in four decades]]. He ended his career with 2,715 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] and 498 doubles, having batted over .300 seven times with three seasons of 100 [[run batted in|runs batted in]] (RBI). Buckner led his league in assists four times, with his 1985 mark remaining the [[American League]] (AL) record. He retired with the fourth-most assists by a first baseman (1,351) in major league history despite not playing the position regularly until he was 27 years old. After retiring as a player, Buckner became a [[real estate developer]] in [[Idaho]]. He coached a number of [[Minor League Baseball]] (MiLB) teams before leaving baseball in 2014.

==Early years==
Buckner was born in [[Vallejo, California]], and grew up in nearby [[American Canyon, California|American Canyon]]. He and his brothers Bob and Jim, and Jim's twin sister Jan, were raised by their parents, Leonard and Marie Katherine Buckner; his father died in 1966, when Bill was a teenager. His mother was a stenographer for the [[California Highway Patrol]].<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = James
  | first = Marty
  | title = AmCan's Buckner to enter Sac-Joaquin Section shrine
  | journal = American Canyon Eagle
  | location = Napa, California
  | date = May 20, 2010
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/eagle/sports/amcan-s-buckner-to-enter-sac-joaquin-section-shrine/article_cd4e7007-9484-5519-ae6d-310e6ee053d3.html
  | access-date = October 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name="sabr.org">{{cite web |last=English |first=Jeff |title=Bill Buckner |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Bill-Buckner/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref>

He graduated from [[Napa High School]] in 1968 after playing on the school's baseball and football teams. While playing football, he was a two-time All-State receiver and also achieved All-America honors twice.<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = James
  | first = Marty
  | title = A high-flying Hall of Famer
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | location = Napa, California
  | date = June 13, 2011
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/high-school/a-high-flying-hall-of-famer/article_3e155950-9649-11e0-9cb0-001cc4c03286.html
  | access-date = October 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = James
  | first = Marty
  | title = Still talkin' baseball
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | location = Napa, California
  | date = February 3, 2009
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/still-talkin-baseball/article_ebc5cf78-4532-5a02-ab16-98e9a0475c4e.html
  | access-date = October 5, 2011}}</ref>

As a baseball player at Napa High School, Buckner hit .667 in 1967 and .529 in 1968 under coach Dale Fisher. As a football player, Buckner is still in the Napa record lists for [[Reception (gridiron football)|reception]] yards in a season (579), career reception yards (963), and career receptions (61). At first, Buckner contemplated attending [[Stanford]] or [[University of Southern California|USC]], but he eventually chose professional baseball instead.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Buckner |url=https://napahighhof.org/members/bill-buckner/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Napa High Athletic Hall of Fame}}</ref><ref name="sabr.org"/>

Buckner was selected by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the second round of the [[1968 Major League Baseball draft]]; his friend [[Bobby Valentine]] was the Dodgers' first-round pick. Upon signing with the Dodgers, Buckner was assigned to the [[Ogden Dodgers]] of the [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League]]. He also briefly attended [[Los Angeles Valley College]], USC and [[Arizona State University]]. He became a member of the [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity while a farmhand with the Dodgers, and roomed with Valentine while attending USC after his first professional season.<ref name="sabr.org" />

==Career==
===Minor leagues (1968–1970)===
At age 18, Buckner made his professional debut playing with the [[Ogden Dodgers]] of the Rookie [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer league]] in 1968, hitting .344 with 4 [[home run]]s and 44 RBI in 64 games. He was teammates with Valentine and [[Steve Garvey]], who also were playing in their first professional seasons. The manager at Ogden was [[Tommy Lasorda]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=buckne002wil|title=Bill Buckner Independent Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1968 Ogden Dodgers Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=6f466d37 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

In 1969, Buckner played with four Dodger teams, as he advanced quickly in the Dodgers' farm system. He hit .350 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI in 46 games with the Dodgers team in the [[Arizona Instructional League]]. He then batted .307 with 7 home runs and 50 RBI with the Class AA [[Albuquerque Dodgers]], and .315 with 2 home runs and 27 RBI in 36 games with the Class AAA [[Spokane Indians]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]]. While at Spokane, Buckner's manager was once again Lasorda.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/> Buckner was called up to the Dodgers late in the season at age 19, popping up to second base as a [[pinch hitter]] for [[Jim Brewer (baseball)|Jim Brewer]] in the 9th inning of a 4–3 road loss to the [[San Francisco Giants]] on September 21 in his only appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN196909210.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 3|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|date=1969-09-21}}</ref>

Buckner spent April {{baseball year|1970}} with the Dodgers, picking up his first hit in a 5–2 loss to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] on April 8, but after batting .121 with no home runs or RBI, he was returned to Triple-A Spokane, where he played 111 games under Lasorda after he was given leave to complete finals at USC. He hit .335 with 3 home runs and 74 RBI, playing alongside Garvey, Valentine, [[Davey Lopes]], [[Tom Paciorek]], [[Bill Russell (shortstop)|Bill Russell]], [[Charlie Hough]], and [[Doyle Alexander]], among others. Buckner played most of the 1970 season with a broken jaw and with his jaw wired shut. Spokane finished 94–52, and Buckner was again called up to the Dodgers in September.<ref>{{cite web |title=1970 Spokane Indians Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=4b6c2834 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="sabr.org" /> He batted .257 in the final month, with 4 RBI and 5 [[run (baseball)|runs scored]].

===Los Angeles Dodgers (1971–1976)===
Buckner earned a starting job with the Dodgers in {{baseball year|1971}} as their opening-day [[right fielder]], and hit his first career home run off [[Don Wilson (baseball)|Don Wilson]] of the [[Houston Astros]] on April 6, providing the only scoring in a 2–0 road win. Buckner also played some first base with the Dodgers, making 87 starts at first in {{baseball year|1973}}. However, when [[Steve Garvey]] emerged as a [[Gold Glove]] first baseman and the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]'s [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] the following season, Buckner was shifted to left field permanently. Buckner played a supporting role in a baseball milestone on April 8, {{baseball year|1974}}. Playing left field, he climbed the fence in an attempt to catch [[Hank Aaron]]'s record 715th home run. He also played in his first World Series that year, which the Dodgers lost to the [[Oakland Athletics]] in five games; Buckner hit .250 in the Series, including a home run off [[Catfish Hunter]] in Game 3, a 3–2 road loss.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 15, 1974 |title=1974 World Series Game 3, Los Angeles Dodgers at Oakland Athletics, October 15, 1974 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197410150.shtml |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Buckner suffered an injury on April 18 in the 1975 season that saw him flip over when his foot caught under the bag on an attempted slide. He gamely played the rest of the year hurt and had a tendon removed in September and bone chips removed in October. Ultimately, he never fully recovered from the injury, 
which saw him soak his feet in ice for multiple years before games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1986/11/10/the-hub-hails-its-hobbling-hero-even-though-bill-buckner-let-game-6-slip-through-his-injured-legs-the-fans-in-boston-showed-last-week-how-much-they-admired-his-courageous-play-in-the-world-series|title=The Hub Hails Its Hobbling Hero|first=Peter |last=Gammons|date=November 10, 1986|work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

In his Dodgers career, Buckner batted .289 with 38 home runs and 277 runs batted in<!--not a mistake--> in 773 games.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |title=Bill Buckner Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bucknbi01.shtml |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

===Chicago Cubs (1977–1984)===
[[File:Bill Buckner 810611.JPG|thumb|right|Buckner batting at [[Wrigley Field]] on June 11, 1981]]
[[File:Bill Buckner - Chicago Cubs.jpg|thumb|right|Baseball card of Bill Buckner when playing for the Chicago Cubs]]
Following the [[1976 in baseball|1976]] season, Buckner was traded with [[Iván DeJesús]] and Jeff Albert to the Chicago Cubs for [[Rick Monday]] and [[Mike Garman]]. 

Whereas early indications seemed to lean toward the Dodgers getting the better end of this deal &ndash; with Monday becoming one of the key centerpieces of the Dodgers clubs that went to the {{wsy|1977}} and [[1978 World Series]] &ndash; Buckner soon emerged as something of a star for the beleaguered Cubs. On May 17, 1979, in a famous slugfest at [[Wrigley Field]] in which the Cubs lost 23–22 to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], with three homers by [[Dave Kingman]] and two by [[Mike Schmidt]], Buckner went 4–for–7 with a [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] off [[Tug McGraw]] and a career-high seven RBI.<ref>{{cite web |date=1979-05-17 |title=Philadelphia Phillies 23, Chicago Cubs 22 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197905170.shtml |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> But when manager [[Herman Franks]] resigned late in the season, he made negative comments about several players, including calling Buckner "nuts".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/16/history-shows-tirades-nothing-new-around-wrigley-field/ | work=Chicago Tribune | first=Paul | last=Sullivan | title=History Shows Tirades Nothing New Around Wrigley Field | date=1999-05-16}}</ref>

In 1980 Buckner won the NL [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting title]] with a .324 average. He also struck out only 18 times &ndash; once every 32 [[at bat]]s &ndash; batting in front of Kingman. [[Keith Hernandez]] (.321) and [[Garry Templeton]] (.319) finished just behind Buckner in the race for the NL batting title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1980.shtml|title=1980 Chicago Cubs Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1980-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1980 National League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> In the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|strike]]-interrupted 1981 season, he batted .311 while tying [[Cecil Cooper]] for the major league lead with 35 doubles; he was the Cubs' sole representative at the [[1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS198108090.shtml|title=1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=1981-08-09}}</ref> where he grounded out to first base pinch hitting for [[Manny Trillo]] in the 9th inning of a 5–4 NL victory, their 10th consecutive All-Star win. In 1982 Buckner batted over .300 for the fourth time in Chicago, picked up a career-high 201 hits, drove in 105 runs &ndash; the first time he had topped 75 &ndash; and recorded 159 assists at first base, breaking [[Mickey Vernon]]'s 1949 major league record of 155. In 1983 he again led the NL with 38 doubles, but saw his batting average drop to .280, his lowest mark in eight years.

During the {{baseball year|1984}} season, Buckner saw a loss of playing time at first base to [[Leon Durham]]. Because of his lack of playing time, Buckner was at odds with the Cubs management; in protest, he vowed not to shave until he played two games in a row at first base. Buckner finally shaved between games of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] on May 24, because he found out he was going to be traded the next day to the [[Boston Red Sox]];<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/05/25/First-baseman-Bill-Buckner-could-be-the-solution-to/9808454305600/ | work=United Press International | title=First baseman Bill Buckner could be the solution to... | date=1984-05-25}}</ref> the Cubs went on to win their division, reaching the postseason for the first time in 39 years. In eight seasons with the Cubs, Buckner hit .300 with 81 home runs, 235 doubles, and 516 RBI in 974 games.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===Boston Red Sox (1984–1987)===
Early in the {{baseball year|1984}} season, the Red Sox were in the market for an upgrade at first base. On May 25, they acquired Buckner from the Cubs for [[Dennis Eckersley]] and [[Mike Brumley (infielder)|Mike Brumley]]. On September 21, Buckner enjoyed the first five-hit game of his career in an 8–0 road win over the [[Baltimore Orioles]].

Buckner appeared in all 162 games for the Red Sox in {{baseball year|1985}}, and batted .299 with 16 home runs while posting career highs with 110 RBI, 201 hits, and 46 doubles. He was a prototypical [[contact hitter]], and struck out just 36 times in 719 plate appearances to lead the [[American League]] in that category in 1985. (He also led the NL in most at bats per strikeout in {{Baseball year|1980}}, {{Baseball year|1982}} and {{Baseball year|1986}}, and placed second in {{Baseball year|1979}}, {{Baseball year|1981}}, {{Baseball year|1983}}, and {{Baseball year|1987}}.) In 1985, he also extended his own major league record for assists in a season with 184. 

On June 5, 1986, Buckner picked up his 1,000th career RBI on a ground out in a 7–5 road loss to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. On August 21, he again had five hits in a blowout 24–5 road win over the [[Cleveland Indians]]. In September, he hit .340 with eight home runs and 22 RBI, while missing just three games in spite of chronic ankle soreness. [[Dave Stapleton (infielder)|Dave Stapleton]], the Red Sox first baseman before the acquisition of Buckner, began seeing more playing time as a late-inning defensive replacement in September and October. That season, Buckner hit a career-high 18 home runs, drove in more than 100 runs for the second season in a row, and was a key member of the team that won the American League East by 5{{fraction|1|2}} games. He entered Game 5 of the [[1986 American League Championship Series]] batting just .111 in the Series, and was zero for three in the game when he [[single (baseball)|singled]] to start a ninth-inning rally which was capped off by [[Dave Henderson]]'s [[Dave Henderson#1986 ALCS home run|famous home run]]. 

====1986 World Series====
[[File:Billbuckner.jpg|thumb|Buckner watches his misplayed ground ball as [[Mookie Wilson]] goes to first.]]
{{Main|1986 World Series|Bill Buckner's 1986 World Series error}}
The [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|1986 Red Sox]] were leading the heavily favored [[1986 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] three games to two in the [[1986 World Series]] when Game 6 went into [[extra innings]]. For his part, Buckner was batting just .143 against Mets pitching, and he was 0–for–5 in Game 6. When the Red Sox scored two runs in the top of the tenth, Boston manager [[John McNamara (baseball)|John McNamara]] chose to have Buckner take the field in the bottom of the inning instead of bringing Stapleton in as a defensive replacement for the ailing Buckner, as he had in Games 1, 2, and 5.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://proxy.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/021016|title=Buckner Deserves Some Peace|first=Bill|last=Simmons|date=2002-10-14|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

With two outs and no one on base, New York struck back with three straight singles off [[Calvin Schiraldi]], and tied the game on a wild pitch by [[Bob Stanley (baseball)|Bob Stanley]]. [[Mookie Wilson]] fouled off several pitches before hitting a slow roller to Buckner at first base. Aware of Wilson's speed, Buckner tried to rush the play. As a result, the ball rolled to the left side of his glove,<ref>Gibney, Alex (director, narrator). Simmons, Bill (producer/creator). Buckner, Bill (himself, commentator). "Catching Hell", ''30 for 30'' series of documentaries. ESPN, 2011.</ref> through his legs, and into shallow right field, allowing [[Ray Knight]] to score the winning run from second base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610250.shtml|title=1986 World Series, Game 6|work=Baseball-Reference.com|date=1986-10-25}}</ref> Had Buckner fielded the ball with Wilson safe at first, the score would have remained tied for the next Mets batter. Had Buckner put out Wilson at first base, Game 6 would have gone to an 11th inning.

Boston led Game 7 by a 3–0 score heading into the bottom of the sixth inning when New York rallied again, scoring 3 runs off [[Bruce Hurst]] to tie the game, and 3 more off Schiraldi in the seventh to take a 6–3 lead. Buckner was two for four in the game, and scored one of Boston's two runs in the eighth. However, the Mets also scored twice in the eighth, and won 8–5 for their second and most recent World Series championship.

====Fallout====
Regardless of any of the other perceived shortcomings that led to Boston's loss in the 1986 World Series, Buckner's error epitomized the "[[Curse of the Bambino]]" in the minds of Red Sox fans, and he soon became the scapegoat for a frustrated fan base.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2003/10/23/error_doesnt_weigh?mode=PF |title=Error doesn't weigh: He's been a Sox scapegoat for 17 years, but Bill Buckner is at peace in Idaho |first=Stan |last=Grossfeld |date=2003-10-23 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031214214446/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2003/10/23/error_doesnt_weigh?mode=PF |archive-date=2003-12-14}}</ref> Buckner began receiving death threats and was heckled and booed by some of his own home fans, often with the false belief or implication that his play alone could have instantly won the series for the Red Sox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2019/05/the-lessons-of-bill-buckners-life-editorial.html|title=The lessons of Bill Buckner's life (Editorial)|date=28 May 2019}}</ref> Meanwhile, he was the focal point of derision from the fans of opposing teams on the road—especially when he faced the Mets in [[spring training]] of 1987—and during his first regular-season at bat at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198706280.shtml|title=Boston Red Sox 6, New York Yankees 2|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=1987-07-28}}</ref> He made his 2,500th career hit on May 19, an RBI single in a 4–1 road loss to the [[Kansas City Royals]], but the Red Sox released Buckner on July 23 after he recorded a .273 batting average, two home runs, and 42 RBI in 75 games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pbuckb001.htm |title=Bill Buckner |website=[[Retrosheet]] |access-date=May 28, 2019}}</ref>

===California Angels (1987–1988)===
Upon his release from the Red Sox, Buckner signed with the California Angels. For the remainder of the 1987 season, Buckner batted .306 and drove in 32 runs in 57 games. In 76 total games with the Angels, Buckner hit .288 with three home runs and 41 RBI.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===Kansas City Royals (1988–1989)===
At 38 years old, Buckner was released by the Angels on May 9, {{baseball year|1988}}, just before a road trip that would have brought him to the east coast to face the [[1988 New York Yankees season|Yankees]] and Red Sox. He signed with the [[1988 Kansas City Royals season|Royals]] shortly after his release and walked into [[Fenway Park]] as a player for the opposing team for the first time on July 15. He went one for two off [[Roger Clemens]] with a walk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS198807151.shtml|title=Boston Red Sox 3, Kansas City Royals 1|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=1988-07-15}}</ref>

In 168 games with the Royals, Buckner hit .239 with four home runs and 50 RBI.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

===Second Red Sox stint (1990)===
Buckner returned to the Red Sox in {{baseball year|1990}} as a [[free agent]] and received a [[standing ovation]] from the crowd during player introductions at the home opener on April 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2615471|title=Buckner: 'I try to look at it in a positive way'|first=Ben|last=Houser|date=2006-10-06|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

Buckner's last home run was against [[Kirk McCaskill]] on April 25, 1990, at [[Fenway Park]], the only [[inside-the-park home run]] of his career. Despite being one of the slowest runners in baseball, the 40-year-old Buckner circled the bases in the fourth inning when Angels outfielder [[Claudell Washington]] crashed into Fenway's three-foot high right-field wall and somersaulted into the front row of seats.<ref>{{cite news |title=Buckner hits inside-the-parker |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/04/25/Buckner-hits-inside-the-parker/7682641016000/ |access-date=16 September 2020 |publisher=UPI |date=25 April 1990}}</ref>

His return was short-lived; he retired on June 5 with a .186 batting average, one home run, and three RBI that season. In 526 career games with Boston, Buckner hit .279 with 48 home runs, 112 doubles, and 324 RBI.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

==Career stats==
Buckner was a speedy [[Baserunning|baserunner]] until his ankle surgeries in 1975 and 1976 for a severe ankle sprain and bone chips, respectively. He twice finished in the top 10 in the league in [[stolen base]]s ({{baseball year|1974}} and 1976) and twice led the league in [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (1981 and 1983). After moving to first base, he played 1,555 regular-season games and made only 128 errors in 13,901 chances.<ref name="ReferenceB" />
[[File:Bill Buckner.jpg|thumb|210px|Buckner signing autographs in 2011]]
In 2,517 games over 22 seasons, Buckner batted .289 (2,715–for–9,397) with 1,077 runs scored, 498 doubles, 49 triples, 174 home runs, 1,208 RBI, 183 stolen bases, 450 walks, an [[on-base percentage]] of .321, and a [[slugging percentage]] of .408. Defensively, he recorded a .991 [[fielding percentage]] at first base and at left and right field.<ref name="ReferenceB" />

==Post-playing career==
After Buckner retired from baseball, he moved his family to [[Idaho]] where he invested in real estate in the [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] area. One of the housing subdivisions that he developed is named "Fenway Park". 

On April 8, {{baseball year|2008}}, Buckner threw out the first pitch to former teammate [[Dwight Evans (Baseball)|Dwight Evans]] at the Red Sox home opener as they unfurled their [[2007 World Series]] championship banner. He received a two-minute standing ovation from the sell-out crowd. After the game, when asked if he had any second thoughts about appearing at the game, he said, "I really had to forgive, not the fans of Boston, per se, but I would have to say in my heart I had to forgive the media for what they put me and my family through. So, you know, I've done that and I'm over that."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/04/08/an_emotional_day_for_bill_buckner/|title=An Emotional Day for Bill Buckner|first=Amalie|last=Benjamin|date=2008-04-08|work=Boston Globe}}</ref>

On January 4, 2011, Buckner was named the manager of the [[Brockton Rox (2002–2024)|Brockton Rox]] of the [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball|Can-Am League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brocktonrox.com/therox/headlines/index.html?article_id=1543 |title=Buckner Tabbed As Rox Skipper |date=January 4, 2011 |publisher=Brockton Rox |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110034927/http://www.brocktonrox.com/therox/headlines/index.html?article_id=1543 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=January 4, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = James
  | first = Marty
  | title = NHS great Buckner back in baseball
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | location = Napa, California
  | date = January 6, 2011
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/nhs-great-buckner-back-in-baseball/article_65187b84-1964-11e0-a87b-001cc4c002e0.html
  | access-date = October 3, 2011}}</ref> The Rox posted a 51–42 record in 2011, but after the season, the Rox dropped the professional format to join the [[Futures Collegiate Baseball League]].

In December 2011, Buckner became the hitting instructor for the [[Boise Hawks]] for the 2012 season. The Hawks were the [[Chicago Cubs]] affiliate in the [[Class A-Short Season]] [[Northwest League]].<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/12/30/cubs-officially-name-buckner-as-boise-hitting-coach/ "Cubs officially name Buckner as Boise hitting coach"] ''Chicago Tribune'' – 2011-12-30</ref><ref>[http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/31/1934892/buckner-will-serve-asboise-hawks.html "Buckner will serve as Boise Hawks' hitting coach"] ''The Idaho Statesman'' – 2011-12-31{{dead link|date=November 2016}}</ref> Buckner announced his retirement from baseball on March 3, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Brian |date=2014-03-03 |title=Boise Hawks hitting coach Bill Buckner retires from baseball |url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/03/03/3060234/boise-hawks-hitting-coach-bill.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140304043747/http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/03/03/3060234/boise-hawks-hitting-coach-bill.html |archive-date=2014-03-04 |website=Idaho Statesman}}</ref> Buckner was inducted into the Napa High School Hall Of Fame in 1997<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = James
  | first = Marty
  | title = Buckner in Napa High Hall of Fame
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | location = Napa, California
  | date = April 9, 2008
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/buckner-in-napa-high-hall-of-fame/article_fe1f764d-fe6f-5097-8072-6cb3b93ab457.html
  | access-date = October 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = James
  | first = Marty
  | title = Napa baseball coach accepts honor for his childhood hero
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | location = Napa, California
  | date = October 31, 2010
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/columnists/marty-james/napa-baseball-coach-accepts-honor-for-his-childhood-hero/article_4c42893a-e4ba-11df-8ae5-001cc4c03286.html
  | access-date = October 3, 2011}}</ref> and the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2010.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=James|first=Marty|date=April 22, 2010|title=Napa High alum Buckner to enter Sac-Joaquin Section shrine|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/high-school/napa-high-alum-buckner-to-enter-sac-joaquin-section-shrine/article_9af5f2b2-4dd7-11df-922b-001cc4c002e0.html|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, California|access-date=October 3, 2011}}</ref>

Buckner was inducted into the [[Baseball Reliquary]]'s [[Baseball Reliquary#Shrine of the Eternals|Shrine of the Eternals]] in 2008.<ref name="BRSOTE Inductees">[http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees "Shrine of the Eternals – Inductees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919092503/http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees |date=2020-09-19 }}. Baseball Reliquary. Retrieved 2019-08-14.</ref>

==Personal life==
Buckner and his wife Jody had two daughters, Brittany and Christen, and a son, Bobby. Bobby was a member of the [[Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders]] baseball team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chron.com/longhorns/2006/11/longhorns_sign_bill_buckners_s.html|title=UT sign Bill Buckner's son|first=Joseph|last=Duarte|date=2006-11-09|publisher=Chron.com}}</ref>

===Death===
Buckner died on May 27, 2019, of [[Lewy body dementia]] at the age of 69.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26832836|title=Bill Buckner dies at 69 after battling dementia|date=2019-05-27|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2019-05-27}}</ref> He was surrounded by his wife Jody and three children at the time of his death.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sterling |first1=Joe |last2=Griggs |first2=Brandon |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/27/us/bill-buckner-mlb-dead/index.html |title=Bill Buckner, All-Star slugger best known for his '86 World Series error, is dead at 69 |publisher=CNN |date=May 27, 2019 |access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref>

In a statement, Buckner's family said, "Bill fought with courage and grit as he did all things in life. Our hearts are broken but we are at peace knowing he is in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.mlb.com/press-release/red-sox-mourn-the-passing-of-bill-buckner|title= Red Sox mourn the passing of Bill Buckner|date=2019-05-27|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=2019-05-27}}</ref> Buckner's funeral service was held at Calvary Chapel in Boise, Idaho.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kivitv.com/news/bill-buckner-laid-to-rest|title = Bill Buckner laid to rest during memorial service Saturday|date = 22 June 2019}}</ref>

==References in popular culture==
In the 1974 episode of the TV series ''[[Emergency!]]'' entitled “Nagging Suspicion,” Buckner is mentioned as “batting .300” by one of the fire fighters reading the newspaper. The series is set in Los Angeles and at the time Buckner was playing for the Dodgers. [[Charlie Sheen]] purchased the "Buckner Ball" at auction in {{baseball year|1992}} for $93,000, and for a long time, it resided in the collection of songwriter and Mets fan [[Seth Swirsky]], who refers to it as the "Mookie Ball".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-sp86mets0816,0,3056207.story |title=The Buckner Ball: After getting by Buckner, it eventually was snared by fan who grew up on LI |first=Steve |last=Zipay |date=2006-08-16 |work=Newsday |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313032333/http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-sp86mets0816%2C0%2C3056207.story |archive-date=2007-03-13 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ball was on loan for a time from Swirsky to the Mets to display in their Hall of Fame and Museum, and it was among the most popular artifacts for fans to see. On May 3, 2012, Swirsky sold the ball through [[Heritage Auctions]] for $418,250.<ref name="CollectionSale1">{{cite news |date=2012-05-04 |title=Buckner ball sells for $418,250 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7891240/bill-buckner-baseball-game-6-1986-world-series-sells-418250 |access-date=2025-02-12 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="CollectionSale3">{{cite web |title=Auction record for Buckner Ball |url=http://sports.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7051&lotNo=80987 |publisher=Heritage Auctions}}</ref>

Buckner made a cameo appearance at the beginning of the sports parody film ''[[The Comebacks]]'' and was featured in an episode of the [[HBO]] series ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/curb-your-enthusiasm-mister-softee-bill-buckner-to-the-rescue |title=Mister Softee: Bill Bucker to the rescue? |work=hitfix.com |first=Alan |last=Sepinwall |date=September 4, 2011 |access-date=September 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008193012/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/curb-your-enthusiasm-mister-softee-bill-buckner-to-the-rescue |archive-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> He also made a cameo appearance in the pilot episode of the short-lived sitcom ''[[Inside Schwartz]]'', advising the title character to "just let it go". In 1995, Buckner appeared along with [[Michael Jordan]], [[Stan Musial]], [[Willie Mays]] and [[Ken Griffey Jr.]] in a commercial for the shoemaker [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] in which [[Spike Lee]], in character as [[Mars Blackmon]], compares Jordan's baseball skills to Musial, Mays, Griffey and Buckner. The punch line is a visual reference to Buckner's 1986 World Series error.<ref>{{cite web |title=1995 Nike Mars Blackmon Michael Jordan Baseball Commercial |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3da3nqLUF0 |url-status=dead |publisher=YouTube |access-date=27 July 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806160409/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3da3nqLUF0&gl=US&hl=en}}</ref> His famous 1986 World Series miscue is also referenced in the films ''[[Celtic Pride]]'', ''[[Rounders (film)|Rounders]],''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/r/rounders-script-transcript-poker-damon.html|title=Rounders (screenplay)|access-date=2009-06-22}}</ref> and ''[[Fever Pitch (2005 film)|Fever Pitch]]''. The play is also referenced in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' titled "[[Brother's Little Helper]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snpp.com/episodes/AABF22 |title=Brother's Little Helper |access-date=2010-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427064949/http://www.snpp.com/episodes/AABF22 |archive-date=2010-04-27}}</ref> and in the musical ''[[Johnny Baseball]]''.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/inside/articles/johnny-baseball-program-program-notes |title=Tonight's Lineup: A Crash Course on Red Sox History |first=Brendan |last=Shea |date=April 30, 2010 |publisher=[[American Repertory Theater]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626015425/http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/inside/articles/johnny-baseball-program-program-notes |archive-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> On October 23, 2008, during former Federal Reserve chairman [[Alan Greenspan]]'s testimony in House hearings on the [[2008 financial crisis]], [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[John Yarmuth]] referred to Greenspan as one of "three Bill Buckners".<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122476545437862295?mod=todays_us_page_one Greenspan Admits Errors to Hostile House Panel], ''The Wall Street Journal'', Oct.&nbsp;24, 2008 (accessed Oct.&nbsp;24, 2008)</ref> Buckner and Mookie Wilson appeared in an [[MLB Network]] commercial for the 2016 postseason, "Catching Up", marking the 30th anniversary of the 1986 World Series and their roles in it.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/PN6EOoHFa6o Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201025232521/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN6EOoHFa6o&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN6EOoHFa6o |title=Mookie & Buckner in "Catching Up" |date=September 16, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Buckner is mentioned in ''[[The Areas of My Expertise]]'' in a series of New England sports references. In the book, [[John Hodgman]] describes a (fictional) radio personality and recounts the premonition she had regarding Buckner's infamous error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.<ref>Hodgman, J: (2006). ''The Areas of My Expertise'', Riverhead, page 96.</ref>

The [[Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge]], in Boston, is colloquially referred to by locals as the Bill Buckner Bridge because traffic goes between the "legs" of the bridge, like Buckner's [[Bill Buckner's 1986 World Series error|1986 World Series fielding error]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-03-23|title=The "Buckner Bridge" %|url=https://www.yurasko.net/wfy/2010/03/the-buckner-bridge.html|access-date=2021-06-24|website=William F. Yurasko|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dorr Jr. |first=Vic |date=2 February 2012 |title=Twenty-five years later, Buckner's pain still lingers |url=https://richmond.com/sports/twenty-five-years-later-buckners-pain-still-lingers/article_9766730b-a7ab-5231-9a24-73c6ed28c16f.html |access-date=2021-06-24 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref>  The nickname is now spoken fondly, since Buckner and Sox fans thought fondly of each other after the 2004 World Series win.

In the season 2, episode 16 episode of ''[[Boston Legal]]'', Tom Selleck's fiancée needs to be reminded of a tragedy to break out of uncontrolled laughter. The first time this has to be done he reminds her that Bambi's mother was shot. The second time Selleck simply says, "Bill Buckner."

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball|Biography}}
{{div col}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball batting champions]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* [[Bill Buckner's 1986 World Series error]]
* {{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/444a4659 |title=Bill Buckner, SABR Biography Project |first=Jeff |last=English |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] |date=2016}} 
* {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CR9kKGeE5Q | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701132823/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CR9kKGeE5Q&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2012-07-01 | url-status=dead|title=Bill Buckner: Behind the Bag E:60 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=2011 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |via=[[YouTube]]}}
** "David Ortiz: Cooking with the Pros" Bill Buckner, December 2017, Pages 102–103, 196-197 Author Mulcahy, Susan. ISBN 9780692816400

==External links==
*{{baseballstats |mlb=111663 |espn=371 |br=b/bucknbi01 |fangraphs=1001625 |brm=buckne002wil |retro=B/Pbuckb001 |almanac=bucknbi01}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|444a4659}}
*Bill Buckner {{official website|http://www.billbuckner.net}}
*[https://archive.today/20060507175226/http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/bucknbi01.php Bill Buckner] at The Baseball Page (via [[archive.today]])
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{{succession box| before = [[Mike Schmidt]] | title = [[MLB Player of the Month|National League Player of the Month]]| years = August 1982| after = [[Claudell Washington]]}}
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{{NL batting title}}
{{Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame}}
{{Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckner, Bill}}
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