Hi, I’m Bill Buckner and I’m gonna be your guide as we travel together through the 1985 MLB season. I turned 35 last December, and this’ll be my seventeenth year in the bigs – man they fly by so quick – with my third club. I was drafted way back in 1968 by the Dodgers. I was their second pick, 25th overall, in what turned out to be a real strong one for the club. Along with myself, fifteen guys drafted by LA that night ended up playing in the bigs, including Davey Lopes, Doyle Alexander, Steve Garvey and Ron Cey. Being born in Vallejo, I was delirious to be staying in California.
I started off at the rookie-ball Ogden Dodgers in the Pioneer League, and wouldn’t you know it, my manager there was Tom Lasorda! 1969 was a big year for me, as I sped through the minors and was up at the big club by September. I had my first MLB at-bat on Sep 21 against Gaylord Perry and the Giants, but didn’t get a hit and that turned out being my only appearance for the Dodgers that season.
1970 had its highs and lows for me. I got my first career hit on April 8 against the Reds, but just couldn’t get it going. With my average sitting at a paltry 121, I was sent back to AAA Spokane in May along with Steve Garvey. I did better there, hitting 335 despite busting my jaw in a collision with Davey Lopes and Bobby Valentine that required me to get my jaw wired. In fact, we set a new Pacific Coast League record at Spokane that year, hitting 299 as a team. I got included in the PCL All-Star squad and the Dodgers called me back up in September. I did better this time, hitting 257 to get my season BA up to 191.
I stayed at LA thru the ’76 season, playing near 800 games for the Dodgers. My best year, and the club’s most successful season while I was with them, was 1974. I hit 314 that year and finished down-ballot in the MVP voting (25th in the final tally), and we made it all the way to the Series before getting beat by the A’s in five. I hit a homer off Catfish Hunter but also got thrown out on a bit of a bonehead play trying to stretch a double. Still, it was great to be on the biggest stage of all. If I’da known it was gonna be my only time, I’da savoured it more – but that’s just not how you think. You think you’ll make it every year.
Anyway, I got traded to the Cubbies with Ivan de Jesus at the end of the 1976 season for Rick Monday and Mike Garman. I was pretty pissed at first because everything and everyone I knew was at LA, especially Tommy – who I’d become real tight with by then and who’d just been made skipper of the big club. I was hurt as well, which didn’t make things easier, having had ankle surgery after the ’76 season.
But once I was back and playing I got over it pretty quick. That said, my first year at Chicago was a tough one because I just couldn’t stay healthy. My biggest highlight – maybe my only one – came right near the end of the season, when I had three homers and 8 ribbies in a three-game series against my old club. A little reminder I could still rake with the best of 'em.
My time at Chicago can best be described as
fractious. I loved the fans and had some great teammates on those clubs, but never really felt settled there. Every year there was a new challenge to be overcome and by the time they finally traded me in the middle of 1983 for Eck and Mike Brumley, I was kinda glad to be moving on, you know? Looking for a fresh start.
That’s how I ended up here at Fenway with the Red Sox.
Playing in Boston is like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my baseball career. I thought the Cubs fans were passionate – man, they’re like corpses compared to these guys. I love playing here, love the city, the ballpark is the best I’ve ever played in – due respect to Wrigley – and I get on really well with the other fellas. It’s been a great move for me and the family.
1984 was an OK season for us, but we’re looking for much better than fourth this time around. After playing in the outfield early on in my career, I’m at first base now – all those years have taken their toll on my legs and I don’t cover the ground so good no more. In close games I usually get lifted for a defensive sub in the late innings just to be on the safe side, almost always Dave Stapleton. I’m fresh off elbow surgery but my ankles are still giving me hell and I reckon I’ll need to get them done as well after this season.
So that’s about it for now, I reckon. Our season starts in a few days with a three-game homestand against our arch enemies, the damn Yankees. The deal here is that I’ll give you a quick recap of each game from my perspective as well as whatever colour and scraps of news comes to hand from within the ballclub over the course of the season.