Bill Buckner

Bill Buckner achieved baseball immortality and infamy among Boston Red Sox fans (collectively known as The Red Sox Nation) when as Red Sox first baseman, he let a ball weakly hit by Mookie Wilson scoot between his legs during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series (1986). The spectacular bone-headed play gave the one-strike-away-from-losing New York Mets new life, and they went on to win Game 6 and the World Series in seven games. Buckner's unbelievable play prolonged the "Curse of the Bambino" that had plagued the Nation for 66 years, after Babe Ruth had been sold by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee to the New York Yankees. The following year, the Sporting News' annual baseball supplement featured a cover photo of Buckner's miscue with the headline, "Can Anyone Doubt the Red Sox Hex"? The Nation took it so hard that a retired Buckner was forced to move out of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as his children were being harassed by young Red Sox fans.