Bill Buckner, Red Sox legend, dies at age 69

Share

Bill Buckner's legacy extends far beyond one fielding mishap.

The former Boston Red Sox first baseman and veteran of 22 MLB seasons died Monday at age 69, his family confirmed in a statement.

"After battling the disease of Lewy Body Dementia, Bill Buckner passed away early the morning of May 27th surrounded by his family," the statement read, via ESPN.com. "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."

Buckner's three-plus seasons with the Red Sox were marked by his fielding error on a Mookie Wilson ground ball in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series that allowed the New York Mets to walk off with a 6-5 victory. The Mets won the title in Game 7, securing Buckner's place as a scapegoat in Boston.

But the Red Sox vindicated Buckner in 2004, ending an 86-year title drought with their first World Series championship since 1918. The lifting of Boston's "curse" allowed Sox fans to see Buckner for who he really was: a hard-working and very talented first baseman who posted a lifetime .289 batting average with 2,715 career hits and 1,208 RBIs.

Buckner also owned his infamous mistake, making a cameo on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to riff with Larry David over the error.

The Northern California native counted Bobby Valentine among his good friends -- both were drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968 -- and the former Red Sox manager offered a touching tribute to Buckner on social media Monday.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

Contact Us