![]() Forever viewed as the man who would have ended the Curse if not for "McNamara's Meddling," Buckner goes on to enjoy a successful eight-year run as Red Sox manager before retiring to the broadcast booth.Ĭhris Webber knew how big a mistake he'd made. The Boston media lambastes the decision to remove Buckner, who drove in 102 runs during the regular season, pointing out that even the aging first baseman could surely have handled Wilson's grounder, the only ball that came his way in the 10th inning. The Mets proceed to capture Game 7 two days later, and the full wrath of the Boston faithful lands on McNamara's shoulders. Keith Hernandez makes the Red Sox pay for stranding 17 runners in the game, hitting a game-winning home run off Steve Crawford in the bottom of the 12th. Forced to bat Stapleton, who he had inserted for Bill Buckner in the bottom of the 10th, manager John McNamara watches the veteran with just 39 at-bats all season ground into an inning-ending double play. Neither team scores in the 11th inning, but the Red Sox load the bases with one out in the 12th after singles by Spike Owen and Wade Boggs and a walk to Marty Barrett. The Sox escape the inning when Mookie Wilson grounds weakly to Dave Stapleton at first base. But disaster strikes when Calvin Schiraldi allows back-to-back-to-back singles and Bob Stanley uncorks a wild pitch that allows the tying run to score from third. The Red Sox stand three outs from their first World Series title since 1918 - they lead the Mets 5-3 in the 10th inning of Game 6. Maybe Buckner could have been a good manager? ![]()
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