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April 8, 2008

Update: Warm reception for Buckner at Fenway / Photo

Journal photo /Bob Breidenbach
Former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, whose great career was marred by a legendary error in the 1986 World Series, acknowledges a standing ovation before throwing out the first pitch for the Red Sox' home opener today at Fenway.

BOSTON -- Those tears he wiped away were real. Bill Buckner admitted that his suprise appearance today at Fenway Park touched him deeply, and that he was indeed teary-eyed as the fans cheered while he made his way in from left field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"It was about as emotional as it could get," Buckner told a group of reporters in the Fenway Park interview room immediately after the ceremony. "A lot of things were going through my mind" as he walked in from left field. "Just good things . . . which is a good thing.

"I appreciate all the thought behind [the invitation from the Red Sox organization]. It was hard to do for me."

The emotions stemmed from the ordeal he's beeen through since committing the error in Game Six in the 1986 World Series that came, rightly or wrongly, to symbolize nearly nine decades of frustration for the Boston organization.

"I had to . . . " he began, and then he stopped for a few moments, choking up again. "I had to forgive, not the fans of Boston. In my heart, I had to forgive the media for what they put me and my family through. I've done that, gotten over that, and just thought of the positives, the happy things."

In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, a ball went through the legs of Sox first baseman Buckner, allowing the New York Mets to stage a comeback victory. In Game 7, Mets went on to win that series.

Thousands of fans and a panoply of Boston sports stars massed at the holy site of Red Sox Nation this afternoon for the home opener that featured the Boston Symphony Orchestra playing the national anthem.

Other attendees today are Boston Bruins legends Bobby Orr and Johnny McKenzie, Celtics legends John Havlicek and Bill Russell, and the New England Patriots' Tedy Bruschi and Larry Izzo.

For complete throughout-the-day Sox home opener coverage, check out projo's Sox Blog.

-- Journal sports editor Art Martone, with reports from Journal staff writer Scott MacKay

Posted by Jack Perry  at 3:29 PM | Permalink

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24onthefloor | April 8, 2008 10:03 PM link

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