Behind the bag – Game 6 of the 1986 World Series
On October 25, 1986 — “If one picture is worth a thousand words, you have seen about a million words, but more than that, you have seen an absolutely bizarre finish to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.” – Vin Scully, describing the aftermath of the play after a long silence.
One strike from defeat, the Mets score 3 runs to win the game, they will tie the game on a wild pitch (which should have been a pass ball) and then, Mookie Wilson hits a slow roller that gets by Bill Buckner‘s, and amazingly the Mets win Game 6, knotting the Fall Classic at three games apiece. This event was selected as one of baseball’s 30 most memorable moments.
In the top of the 10th the Red Sox had scored 2 runs off Mets reliever Rick Aguilera’s on a Dave Henderson home run, and Marty Barrett singled in Wade Boggs with two outs.
There is a lot of controversies that surround this game. The Red Sox were up 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th with the AL future MVP and Cy Young award winner on the mound. But in the top of the eighth, the Red Sox had Dave Henderson on second with one out. Manager John McNamara sent rookie Mike Greenwell to pinch hit for Roger Clemens in an effort to match Greenwell, a left-handed batter, against the Mets’ dominant short-relief man Roger McDowell even as righty slugger Don Baylor sat on the bench; Greenwell struck out and the Sox scored no runs that inning. It was initially said that Clemens was removed from the game due to a blister forming on one of his fingers, but both he and McNamara dispute this. Clemens said to Bob Costas on an MLB Network program concerning the 1986 postseason that McNamara decided to pull him despite Clemens wanting to pitch. McNamara said to Costas that Clemens “begged out” of the game.
Dave Stapleton had become the late-inning replacement for Bill Buckner, in fact, in 1986 he appeared at first base in each of the 7 Red Sox victories at first base. It is reported Bill Buckner insisted on being on the field.
Other Resources & Links
Retro Sheet PBP & Box Score