Bill Buckner

Former Major League Baseball player

What is Bill Buckner known for?

Bill Buckner, an alumni of Napa High School, was a renowned American baseball player known for his storied Major League Baseball (MLB) career. He was born on December 14, 1949, in Vallejo, California. Buckner played a pivotal role in the game, representing five different teams from 1969 to 1990, namely the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals.

His career started as an outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played a significant role in leading the team to the pennant in 1974 with an impressive batting average of .314. However, a severe ankle injury the following year led to his trade to the Chicago Cubs. Notably, in 1980, playing as a first baseman, Buckner won the National League batting title with a .324 mark, earning his place on the All-Star team the following year.

Buckner was particularly adept at doubles, leading the major leagues in this area. He also set MLB records for first basemen with assist totals in 1982 and 1983, surpassing his own record in the latter year.

In the 1985 season, Buckner started all 162 games, shattering his own record with 184 assists. He concluded his career with 2,715 hits and 498 doubles, having batted over .300 seven times with three seasons of 100 runs batted in (RBI). Notably, Buckner led his league in assists four times, with his 1985 mark remaining the American League (AL) record. He retired with the fourth-most assists by a first baseman (1,351) in major league history, a remarkable feat considering he didn't play the position regularly until he was 27 years old.

One of the most memorable moments in his career came in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, where his tenth-inning error against the New York Mets became a significant part of baseball history. This event was long considered part of a curse on the Red Sox, leading to years of public mockery that Buckner handled graciously. Ultimately, he was embraced by Red Sox fans again after their 2004 World Series victory.

After retiring from baseball, Buckner turned to real estate development in Idaho, providing a new path of success in his later years. Bill Buckner passed away on May 27, 2019, in Boise, Idaho.

His impact on the sport and the teams he passionately represented was immense, leaving a legacy that will undoubtedly be remembered by baseball enthusiasts for generations to come.

More about his life and exceptional career can be found here.