26 years ago today the Boston Red Sox up by 3 games to 2 over the New York Mets were one strike away from winning their first World Series since 1918. They were about to bury the Curse of the Bambino. But it wasn’t to be.

The game went extra innings and in the top of the 10th the Red Sox scored 2 runs going up 5-3. Manager John McNamara made two more bonehead mistakes [he was an awful manager in my opinion and he made a lot of mistakes in this series. I think the only reason he ever had a job was because of the ‘old boy’ network. He had friends in positions to hire managers} he kept Calvin Schiraldi in the game for his 3rd inning of relief and first baseman Billy Buckner was hobbling around on bad wheels. He had a much better defensive first baseman in Dave Stapleton on the bench. He kept Buckner in the game, his reasoning was “He deserved to be out there when we won”

The inning started out fine Wally Backman and Keith Hernandez flew out. Gary Carter and Kevin Mitchell singled. Then Ray Knight had 2 strikes on him. One more and the series is over. On the next pitch Knight singles Carter home. 5-4, Mitchell advanced to third. Bob Stanley comes in to pitch for the Red Sox. The next hitter is Mookie Wilson for the Mets Wilson fouled off a number of pitches and on the 7th pitch of the at bat Bob Stanley uncorks a wild pitch, Mitchell scores and the game is tied. Wilson then hit a slow rolling grounder to first base. Should end the inning and we go to the 11th. The ball rolls through Buckner’s legs, Knight scores. The Mets even the series up at 3 game each and of course go on to win the World Series in Game 7.