Buckner's passing a reminder that he deserves a better legacy

Sometimes there are great players that deserve better legacies.

The Major League Baseball world was shaken on Monday morning
with the news of 22-year MLB veteran Bill Buckner having passed
away at age 69 as a result of dementia.

Buckner played 22 seasons in the big leagues from 1969-90.
Unfortunately, he is most remembered for his error in Game 6 of
the 1986 World Series, when he let Mookie Wilson's ground ball
get through his legs. The error allowed the game-winning run to
score, and the Mets went on to win the series in seven games.
The Red Sox were seeking their first World Series title since 1918.
Boston later lifted its curse by winning four World Series crowns
from 2004-2018.

Following his playing career, Buckner spent some time coaching
and managing in independent and minor leagues. He officially
retired from baseball in 2014.

I first started following baseball in 1982 and when I heard that
Buckner graduated from Napa High School in 1968, I became an
instant fan of his. Though I grew up a San Francisco Giants fan,
I remember going to an Oakland A’s game when they were hosting
the Red Sox. When Buckner came up to bat, I remember thinking,
“Wow, he’s from my hometown.” Buckner was enshrined in the
Napa High Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and the CIF Sac Joaquin
Section Hall of Fame in 2010.

Buckner was born in Vallejo, CA, which is about a half hour South
of Napa but grew up in American Canyon, which is located between
Napa and Vallejo. American Canyon, however, did not get its own
high school until 2010, which meant kids that lived there went to
school in Napa. Just think, Buckner could have been an American
Canyon Wolves player.

While I’m not suggesting that his aforementioned error should be
summarily dismissed, it is also important to remember that while
it was the final play of that game, there were other factors that
are attributable to the Red Sox losing that World Series.

Regardless of profession, I have always believed that a person’s
resume is the body of work over a period of time. Unlike some
Napa and/or Vallejo natives, I never had the pleasure of meeting
Buckner. Everyone I talked to that either met or knew him, spoke
in glowing terms. I have no reason to think anything to the contrary.

The grace in which he handled years of criticism, and especially
in the face of death threats is exemplary. I don’t know if anyone
could have handled it better.

As I look at Buckner’s career, I can’t help but think, “It’s a crying
shame that he does not have a better legacy in baseball.” Those
who truly know the game appreciate it, while the short-sighted
ones point to a certain night in 1986 and let it overshadow his
greatness.

Though he only played in one All-Star Game (1981), strong
arguments can be made that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Buckner played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-1976),
Chicago Cubs (1977-1984), Red Sox (1984-1987, 1990),
California Angels (1987-1988) and Kansas City Royals
(1988-1989).

The bottom line is that Buckner deserves to be remembered for
much more than the error. Anyone with a clear conscience can
see that the good he did in baseball far outweighed the bad.
Buckner finished his career with a .289 batting average, .321
on base percentage and .408 slugging percentage. Though he
is remembered for the aforementioned error, Buckner recorded
a fielding percentage of .991 playing first base, left-field and
right-field.

Buckner compiled 2,715 career hits and 174 home runs. He was
the National League batting champ in 1980 and received MVP
votes in five different seasons. In the 1970s and 1980s, only
all-time hits leader Pete Rose compiled more hits.

When I think of Buckner’s career, it takes me back to when baseball
was a different game. It was the pre Performance Enhancing Drug
(PED) era. You did not see cartoon like home run totals. The
emphasis was about making contact. Buckner was the epitome of
the term “tough out.”

He still holds the Napa High record for fewest strikeouts in a
season (one) with a minimum of 50 at-bats. Buckner never had a
game in which he struck out three times and once had a stretch
where he went nearly 200 at bats without a strikeout. Those
numbers are hard to fathom in today’s game where about one-third
of the at-bats end either in a walk, strikeout or home run. In 22
seasons, Buckner had 7,764 plate appearances and only struck
out 453 times. That’s one strikeout per 17.1 plate appearances.
Let that marinate for just a moment.

Since Buckner is no longer on this Earth in body, it behooves
everyone to think of Buckner’s legacy as heavenly.