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October 25, 1986
1986 World Series | Game 6
Mets' miracle comeback capped by Bill Buckner's error |
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SHEA STADIUM, QUEENS, NEW YORK -- He wasn't even supposed to be on the field. But with Boston's first World Series victory since 1918 looming, Red Sox manager John McNamara wanted Bill Buckner to experience it from his regular spot at first base. Instead, Buckner became the focal point of Boston's ubiquitous postseason frustrations.
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Starters: Roger Clemens vs. Bobby Ojeda
WP: Rick Aguilera LP: Calvin Schiraldi
HR: BOS: Dave Henderson (10th)
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With the Red Sox heading into the bottom of the tenth on top 5-4, McNamara would normally have replaced Buckner -- who was hampered in the field by damaged legs -- with Dave Stapleton for defensive reasons. But McNamara's good-intentioned gesture turned into the infamous image of Mookie Wilson's slow roller down the first-base line trickling miraculously through Buckner's legs. Ray Knight then raced around from third with the winning run, allowing the Mets to force a Game 7.
But Buckner's miscue was only the most memorable in a game filled with blunders and missed opportunities by both teams.
Boston scored a run in each of the first two innings behind Roger Clemens, who won both the Cy Young and MVP Awards that season. The Mets tied the game in the fifth, but missed an opportunity for more when Clemens induced Danny Heep into a double play. The Red Sox scored again in the seventh to take the lead -- courtesy of a Ray Knight throwing error -- but failed to pile on any more runs when Buckner was retired by Jesse Orosco with the bases loaded.
In the seventh, Clemens was lifted in favor of Calvin Schiraldi. McNamara later said the move was made because Clemens had developed a blister, a claim that baseball fans continue to debate. Regardless, the Mets promptly took advantage of Clemens' departure by scoring a run off Schiraldi to force extra innings.
In the tenth, the Sox scored two runs off Rick Aguilera, but Bob Stanley threw a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning that allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run, setting the scene for Boston's collapse.
The Mets, of course, went on to win Game 7 and the World Series.
Copyright 1986 by the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball
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| Game 1 - October 18, 1986 |
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Red Sox |
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5 |
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| Mets |
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| Game 2 - October 19, 1986 |
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| Mets |
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| Game 3 - October 21, 1986 |
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| Red Sox |
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| Game 4 - October 22, 1986 |
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| Red Sox |
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| Game 5 - October 23, 1986 |
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| Red Sox |
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| Game 7 - October 27, 1986 |
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Watch the TV broadcast
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Roger McDowell may have been the fun loving reliever on Mets, but he had lost all hope when the Red Sox were one out away from clinching the 1986 World Series. McDowell shares his memories of how he and the Mets went from inconsolable to delirious thanks to one improbable comeback.