The ancient Boston-New York rivalry gets renewed tonight, not in the more traditional Red Sox-Yankees sense, but rather with the interleague Red Sox-Mets rivalry. Okay, maybe "rivalry" is a little too strong a description for the series, but in today's disposable, fast-food, instant-gratification world, "ancient" is probably an apt description for the 20th anniversary of the Red Sox-Mets World Series of 1986.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of that classic series, Boston management has arranged a reunion of many of the participants, to take place during the three-game set in Fenway tonight, tomorrow, and Thursday between the modern incarnations of both clubs. This series promises to be an exciting one between the teams with the third-and-fourth best records in baseball, but the obvious question regarding any World Series reunion would have to be, "why?"
If the series were taking place at Shea Stadium, it would make sense, given the fact that the Mets won the series in stunning comeback fashion, as anyone who follows sports at all is well aware. The now-grainy video from twenty autumns ago of Bill Buckner bending in agonizingly painful fashion to field Mookie Wilson's ground ball, only to see the ball skip under his glove and into right field as Ray Knight races home with the winning run in Game Six, setting up New York's eventual Game Seven comeback win, is now probably more famous than the film of that poor ski jumper who crashed down the mountain every week for years at the beginning of ABC's Wide World of Sports.
But to celebrate such a painful memory in Boston? Does the British government hold a fireworks display every year on July Fourth? Does NASA celebrate the launch of the space shuttle Challenger? Why does Red Sox management want to dredge up the single most painful memory many Sox fans have ever had to endure?
Sure, for normal teams and under normal circumstances a celebration of the 20th anniversary of winning the American League pennant, one of only two Sox teams to accomplish that feat in the last thirty years, would be appropriate. But considering the massive implosion that ended that season on the Boston side, doesn't it seem a little like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer so you can enjoy the feeling when you stop?
In any event, the reunion is going to take place, although certainly not with with all the former combatants. Let's take a look at some of the possible and impossible participants.
Roger Clemens - Obviously, Roger has other things to do. The only member of either team still active as a player has changed uniforms and is now wearing the polyester of the Houston Astros. Roger's a definite no-show.
Dwight Gooden - Clearly another no-show, since Doc has changed uniforms and now wears the institutional blue of the Florida Department of Corrections. Another definite no.
Bill Buckner - Every soap opera worth it's salt needs a tragic figure, and Buckner fits the bill here. A solid, even outstanding player during his two decades of big league service, this poor guy is remembered only as the goat of the 1986 World Series, an unfair label since the BoSox collapse was truly a team collaboration. Buckner was hounded out of town after his retirement, moving from the Boston suburbs to somewhere in Idaho to get away from the constant attention. It's hard to imagine Billy Buck would come back to relive his infamous gaffe.
Darryl Strawberry - One of New York's seemingly endless supply of good young players in 1986, the sky was the limit as far as his potential was concerned. For a Mets fan, it had to seem like a run of titles was a distinct possibility. That didn't happen, and neither did all that potential turn into production for Strawberry, although he remained a dangerous hitter for years. Problems with drugs and marital issues took their toll on the Mets' right fielder. There's probably a pretty good chance he'll be back, if only to hear the chants of "Daaaarylll," he was serenaded with almost constantly at Fenway during the Series.
Joe Morgan - No, not the Hall of Fame former second-baseman for the Reds, the real Joe Morgan, at least around New England, is the baseball lifer who in 1986 was a member of the Red Sox coaching staff. Morgan is a Boston legend who still lives in the area, famous for turning around a struggling Red Sox team in 1988. Named interim manager when John McNamara was fired at the All-Star break, Morgan inspired the Red Sox to win their first twelve in a row after the break and 19 of 20 en route to winning the A.L East. A lock to be in on the festivities.
John McNamara - Red Sox manager during the 1986 season, he was villified for not removing Buckner late in Game Six and replacing him with Dave Stapleton defensively, as had become the custom as that season progressed, due to Buckner's increasing lack of mobility on his bad ankles. Perhaps McNamara felt Billy Buck should be on the field for the Series-winning celebration, but he never fully answered the question of why that defensive switch wasn't made. McNamara had a hate-hate relationship with the media during his years in Boston and it doesn't seem likely he would show up in town now.
Bruce Hurst - The man who, for just a few short minutes, was the 1986 World Series Most Valuable Player. Had Bob Stanley been able to nail down that elusive third out in the 10th inning of Game Six, Hurst would have been immortalized as the MVP. As it was, the honor was rescinded when the Mets completed their comeback and forced Game Seven. Hurst will be at Fenway tonight.
The above names highlight just a very few of the potential participants in this reunion of dubious merit. Sometimes the past is best left undisturbed, especially considering Boston's recent run of outstanding baseball. I don't want to be the one to suggest any correlation between 1986 and 2006. Hopefully, for Red Sox fans, the baseball Gods just aren't paying attention to Fenway the next three nights.
Hey everyone, I know it must seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, but it's nothing like that.
I've been busy writing - two full-length novels so far, plus over a dozen short stories - and working hard to try to get an agent. If you are curious and have a few minutes, check out my website, www.allanleve rone.com.
If you're a literary agent or if you know one, by all means contact me! In the meantime, I'll be here when I can - love this forum - and as always, thank you for checking out my blog, especially considering how many great ones you could be reading instead....
