Buckner Jokes Easy, but They’re Not Funny

I’ve just finished reading the latest “comedy musing” from Jerry (the Master of the Obvious) Perisho in the Oct. 26 Morning Briefing. You know, the one about Bill Buckner not being able to field Piazza’s broken bat. Boy, he must be the funniest guy in the unemployment line. And I, for one, am getting sick and tired of people continuing to bash a great player for one unfortunate play.

Buckner had a wonderful career. Does one bad moment erase 22 years in the big leagues, 2,715 hits, a .289 lifetime batting average and a batting championship? A lot of that was achieved while playing on a bad leg. I’d be willing to bet that without that injury, he’d be in the Hall of Fame today. No one, not even Pete Rose, ever played the game with more desire. Anyone who watched the Dodgers when he came up will tell you that.

Enough’s enough. Move along.

ERIC MONSON

Temecula