Bill Buckner back at Fenway...

[RoryN]

Buckner throws out first pitch as Red Sox hand out bling
ESPN.com news services

Updated: April 8, 2008, 2:19 PM ET

The heartbreak of 1986 seems like a long time ago for the Boston Red Sox now that they've won two world championships in four years.

Long enough that Bill Buckner, whose 102 RBIs for the Red Sox that season were eclipsed by his error at first base in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, was chosen to throw out the first pitch of Boston's home opener at Fenway Park on Tuesday as the Red Sox celebrated their 2007 title and gave out World Series rings.

Loud cheers and a long ovation greeted Buckner, who occasionally dabbed at his eyes as he walked to the mound to throw out the first pitch. Former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans caught his throw from the mound.

In the 10th inning of Game 6, with Boston one out away from its first world title since 1918, a Mookie Wilson ground ball up the first base line rolled between Buckner's legs, allowing Ray Knight to score from third and allow the Mets to tie the series at 3 games apiece. The Mets went on to win Game 7 and the series. Buckner, who played part of the 1987 season before being released, played 22 games for Boston in 1990 before retiring.

The Red Sox would have to wait 18 more years before finally capturing the world championship.

It was Buckner's first appearance at Fenway Park since September, 1997, when he was hitting coach with the Chicago White Sox.

On Tuesday, before their home opener against the Detroit Tigers, World Series rings were presented to players, coaches and staff during a pregame ceremony. After an 86-year drought, the rings commemorate Boston's second championship in the last four seasons.

Johnny Pesky, played for and managed the Red Sox and has been associated with the team continuously since 1969, raised the championship flag with designated hitter David Ortiz. Pesky, who joined the Red Sox in 1942 and spent most of his baseball years in Boston, also raised the 2004 championship flag at the 2005 home opener.

The rings arrived at the ballpark early Tuesday in four delivery trucks. They feature two ruby stockings on top of diamonds arranged in the shape of a baseball diamond.

Red Sox principal owner John Henry said players like their rings to be big and they like them to have plenty of bling. The ring is being made in two sizes, one of which, Henry said, "isn't wearable by most of us."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

My take: screw you, Boston Red Sox, and screw you, fair-weather Boston Red Sox fans. Buckner's fuck-up didn't cost you the Series - more likely, karma from having more fair-weather fans than REAL fans in the state of Massachusetts decided to rear its ugly head and give you some payback.

All this gesture shows is that you're still only able to do the right thing when everything's going well. Otherwise, you'd still be bitching about Buckner.

(Man, that felt good.)

 

[southerntierguy]

My take: screw you, Boston Red Sox, and screw you, fair-weather Boston Red Sox fans. Buckner's fuck-up didn't cost you the Series - more likely, karma from having more fair-weather fans than REAL fans in the state of Massachusetts decided to rear its ugly head and give you some payback.

All this gesture shows is that you're still only able to do the right thing when everything's going well. Otherwise, you'd still be bitching about Buckner.

(Man, that felt good.)

Perhaps true enough, but I think you committed an oversight when you failed to call them the "world champion Boston Red Sox."

Apology accepted.

 

[RoryN]

Perhaps true enough, but I think you committed an oversight when you failed to call them the "world champion Boston Red Sox."

Apology accepted.

I dunno. I'll wait a few years and see if any videotapes come to surface first.

A silly idea applied elsewhere. But, this is New England after all...