Bill Buckner, the longtime major leaguer whose 2,707 career hits are the most of any player in the history of baseball not banned from the game, died yesterday. He was just 69.
Sadly, rather than realize his MLB hit total ranks him second all-time behind Pete Rose’s 2,929, he's probably best known for a costly error that he made in the 1986 World Series, when his Red Sox were taking on the New York Mets.
In the 10th inning of Game Six, Mookie Wilson of the Mets hit a slow roller to first base, and the ball went under Buckner's glove and between his legs. He should've made the third out to end the inning . . . but instead, New York scored the game-winning run on that play.
Which is why it is even more ironic that Buckner may be the only person who couldn’t remember that play—after passing away from dementia.
"After battling the disease of Lewy Body Dementia, Bill Buckner passed away early the morning of May 27th surrounded by his family," his family said in a statement. "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, who had the most hits in 1970’s and 1980s of any player in baseball, played 22 seasons in the majors, was an All-Star once and won a batting title in 1980.
He finished his career with 2,715 hits, 1,208 RBIs, 1,077 runs scored and 174 home runs.
After his playing career, Buckner remained in baseball as a coach, including a short stint as the White Sox's hitting coach in 1996 and '97, and a return to Massachusetts in 2011 as manager of the independent league Brockton Rox.
He is survived by his wife,Jody, and three children--Brittany, Christen and Bobby,who played baseball collegiately.
Source:ESPN