New York Baseball's Proudest Moment
World Series Game Six
New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox
October 1986
It didn't happen in the Bronx -- it happened in Queens.
The Red Sox were ahead by two runs in the
tenth inning, and they only had to hold the Mets
for three more outs to win the World Series. What you
are about to see is one of the most inspiring, amazing and truly
tough comebacks of all time.
It is unfortunate that this famous half-inning is often
remembered mainly for Bill Buckner's fielding error on Mookie Wilson's
grounder to first base. This was a major error, but the crucial
moment in the Met's comeback was certainly Bob Stanley's wild pitch,
which allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run and throw the
game back into extra innings. Buckner's error came a few moments
later, after the Red Sox two-run lead was already blown.
A close look at this video shows that the Red Sox
did not lose the game -- the Mets won it.
You will see six brave batters stand at the plate -- Wally
Backman, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter,
Kevin Mitchell, Ray Knight and Mookie Wilson. Backman and
Hernandez score two quick outs, leaving Gary Carter to
bat with nobody on base and very little reason
for hope. But he does not admit defeat and he
does not show fear.
There are no home runs in this inning. There are only
team players desperately trying to manufacture hits any
way they can, unwilling to give up. This is what is
called "courage". This is the meaning of
baseball -- no, it is the meaning of life.
So close your eyes and go back to a cool
October day in 1986. Prince and Bruce were on the
radio, there were like three people in the world who had
heard of the Internet, and the New York Mets were in
big, big trouble out at Shea ...
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