All the recent baseball threads made me think of telling this story, and asking for other examples of when you observed “justice” being served in some way.
Back in May 1986 I was a young sports radio reporter on assignment in Boston to cover the Red Sox. Pretty nice work if you can get it - I was a Mets and Red Sox fan. And Fenway Park is spectacular.
It was just a few days after Roger Clemons set the single-game strikeout record at 20, and I remember he was very polite and pleasant to me, as were the other players I interviewed. Except one.
After sitting down with Bill Buckner in the dugout, I noticed he didn’t seem enthused. He was staring out at the field, not making eye contact with me. The interview did not go well. He was rude, did not answer my questions, scoffed at me, and was generally unpleasant. Very unnerving for a young reporter on his first assignment. I wrapped it up and went on with my work that day and the next.
(Cut to game six of the 1986 World Series)
Looks like the Mets are about to buy the farm. Depression looms for me and my fellow Mets fans. Mookie Wilson comes up. Easy ground ball to first -
…goes between the legs of none other than Bill Buckner. Mets score. Eventually win the game, and the World Series. Buckner becomes butt of numerous jokes, and will always be remembered for this one error.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.