Mookie Says He's Not Tired Of Talking About The Bill Buckner Play
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- He played a central role in one of the most famous plays in baseball history.
Mookie Wilson hit the ball that slipped through Bill Buckner's legs. That enabled the Mets to win Game 6 and, ultimately, the 1986 World Series.
The players are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their title this weekend at Citi Field.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell asked Wilson if he ever gets tired of talking about the Buckner play.
"It never gets tired because the questions always come from a different person and a different point of view," said Wilson, who spoke to veterans Friday at the VA Hospital in Turtle Bay. "And all we have is our memories. And if we can't talk and enjoy it, what's the use of having them?"
The play came on Oct. 25, 1986, as the Mets were on the brink of elimination. The Red Sox, leading three games to two in the series, had just taken a 5-3 lead in the 10th inning. The Mets managed to tie the game, and with two outs, Buckner's error allowed Wilson to reach first and Ray Knight to score the winning run.
Two night later, the Mets won 8-5 to capture their second world championship.
The experience changed Wilson's life.
"I think that every kid dreams of being in the playoffs and in the World Series. ... And very few (professional athletes) get an opportunity to do it," the outfielder said. "But once you're in it, it does impact your life and how rare opportunities do come along, and you have to really seize the moment. And as far as the rest of your life after the events, people don't forget it because you mean so much to people's lives, and you never think about how much your performance impacts others' lives. And I think that's the most amazing thing that we've learned over the years."
When asked what was special about the '86 team, Wilson said: "I think it's the way we came together as a group. Individually, the personalities were so different, and there was the care and the love that we had for each other. And I think that got lost somehow in the shuffle between all the other craziness that was going on, but it was a unique group of guys."
On Friday night at Citi Field, fans will receive a 1986 replica jersey. On Saturday, there will be an on-field pregame ceremony at 6:15 p.m. recognizing members of the championship team. On Sunday night, the first 15,000 fans through the gates will receive a replica 1986 world championship ring.
Tim Tuefel, who played second base on the '86 Mets, said he looks forward to any occasion where he can see his former teammates.
"The reunion's always nice, to get back and see old friends and talk about the good memories that we had with the '86 team," he said. "It's just a joyous time to see where everybody is at with their life and how they're doing. And it's great for the New York Mets to do something like this to remember the good times of our era."
Wilson said it doesn't feel like 30 years have passed since then.
"The beautiful thing is that the relationships have really lasted and grown over the years," he said. "It's always nice to get together."
So what was the lesson learned from the Buckner play?
"You just never give up," Wilson said. "You just never know what's going to happen. You don't try to predict what's going to happen in the future. We're not fortune tellers. So just take care of the moment."