Bill Buckner is a retired American professional baseball player, who had a net worth of $8 million when he died in 2019. Bill Buckner played for five different Major League Baseball teams between 1969 and 1990.
He began his career as an outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers and later moved on to play with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals.
Buckner notoriously made a key error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series for the Red Sox, making him a fan pariah.
Who was Bill Buckner?
Bill Buckner was born on December 14, 1949, in Vallejo, California, to Marie and Leonard. He grew up in the adjacent American Canyon with his siblings Bob, Jim, and Jim’s twin sister Jan. Buckner’s father passed away in 1966. Buckner attended Napa High School, where he played baseball and football. He graduated in 1968. Buckner briefly attended Los Angeles Valley College, USC, and Arizona State University.
After retirement, Bill relocated to Idaho, where he became a successful real estate investor. He even created a housing development called “Fenway Park”.
How old was Bill Buckner?
He was 69 years old when he died.
What was Bill Buckner’s net worth?
He was estimated to be worth $8 Million.
What was Bill Buckner’s career?
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Buckner in the second round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft. After joining the franchise, he was assigned to the Pioneer League’s Ogden Dodgers.
In 64 games in 1968, he batted 344 with four home runs and 44 RBI. The following season, Buckner played for four different teams in the Dodgers’ farm system, where he rose fast thanks to outstanding performances. He was called up to the Dodgers late in the season and made his Major League Baseball debut on September 21.
However, after struggling with the team early in the 1970 season, he was sent to the minors to play with the Spokane Indians. Buckner played the remainder of the season with his jaw wired shut after breaking it. In September, he was recalled to the Dodgers.
Buckner made his Dodgers debut as the team’s right fielder on Opening Day in 1971. He blasted his first professional home run in early April in a road triumph over the Houston Astros. Buckner later played first base for the Dodgers, making 87 starts in 1973.
However, as Steve Garvey emerged as a Gold Glove first baseman, Buckner was permanently sent to left field. In 1974, he had a remarkable moment in left field when he scaled the fence to collect Hank Aaron’s record 715th home run. The following year, he played in his first World Series, which the Dodgers lost to the Oakland Athletics in five games. Buckner concluded his Dodger career in 1976, batting 289 with 38 home runs and 277 RBIs.
Following the 1976 season, Buckner was dealt to the Chicago Cubs. He was relegated to first base after contracting a staph infection in his ankle. Buckner rose to prominence with the Cubs, contributing a grand slam to the legendary slugfest at Wrigley Field in May 1979 and winning the National League batting title in 1980 with a.324 average.
In 1982, he broke Mickey Vernon’s MLB record for first-base assists with 159. Buckner’s playing time decreased in 1984 when Leon Durham took over at first base. Disgruntled, he promised not to shave until he could play two consecutive games at first base. He eventually shaved after learning that he would be traded to the Boston Red Sox the next day. The Cubs won their division and made the playoffs for the first time in 39 years.
The Boston Red Sox acquired Buckner early in the 1984 season. In 1985, he had one of his best seasons, recording career highs of 110 RBI, 201 hits, and 46 doubles while also extending his personal record for assists to 184. Buckner continued to perform well the next season, scoring his 1,000th career RBI and hitting a career-high 18 home runs. The Red Sox advanced to the ALCS, where they rallied from the brink of elimination to defeat the California Angels. In the 1986 World Series, the Red Sox were 3-2 up over the much favored New York Mets when Game 6 went into extra innings.
The Mets rallied to tie the game before Buckner infamously mishandled a ball at first base, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run. In Game 7, the Mets rallied to win the World Series. Buckner was demonized by Red Sox supporters as a symbol of the “Curse of the Bambino,” which allegedly prevented the team from winning the World Series. The Red Sox released Buckner midway through the 1987 season.
Source: www.ghgossip.com
