Buckner forgiven

by Ryan Grindle

“So the winning run is at second base, with two outs, three and two to Mookie Wilson. Little roller up along first; BEHIND THE BAG! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!”. This quote, said by legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, had haunted Red Sox Nation for years. That fateful night, on October 25 of 1986, Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner misplayed a routine ground ball hit in Game 6 of the World Series. After the game, Buckner was run out of town, all the way to Idaho.
Tuesday afternoon, during the Red Sox home opener, the fans were able to see legends from the Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and New England Patriots before the 2007 Red Sox received their World Series rings. After all of this, something unexpected happened. Behind the plate stood Boston hero Dwight Evans, receiving many cheers from the crowd. After his introduction, another familiar face was seen walking from left field to the pitcher’s mound. That day, one that celebrated champions of the city, the city also forgave a man who had not shown his face in town for eleven years.
As soon as his name was announced, the Fenway Faithful gave Bill Buckner a long deserved standing ovation; coming twenty years, and two championships later. Trying to hold back his tears, Buckner wound up and threw a perfect strike to his former teammate.
When all is said and done, this moment not only represents a time to forgive, but also a time to forget. With two World Series Championships in the last five seasons, there is no longer any remorse for guys like Buckner, who tried their best but made one crucial mistake. When the fans saw him walking out to the mound, not a single one of them booed him.
This acted as a turning point for Sox fans, who have now put the “Curse of the Bambino” in the very back of their memories. Every person asked about what they thought about the whole thing had the same response, saying it was time to move on from those memories and give back for five minutes to a guy who had given those people his best effort for five years.