...for losing the 1986 World Series (from the biggest disappointment thread). These were the reasons ESPN chose:



* 5. Roger Clemens left the game after seven innings. Clemens has insisted he did not leave the game willingly, and most observers of his career believe him.



* 4. Calvin Schiraldi's pitching put the Mets in a position to tie and win the game, and the game was already tied at the time of the error. Had Buckner made the play, the game would have moved to an eleventh inning.



* 3. Pitcher Bob Stanley and catcher Rich Gedman miscommunicated on the wild pitch that tied the game.



* 2. Batter Mookie Wilson would have beaten Buckner to first base even if the ball had been properly played.



* 1. Manager John McNamara. He took Clemens out against his will; he pinch-hit Clemens not with veteran slugger Don Baylor, but with rookie Mike Greenwell, who struck out on three pitches; he refused to replace Buckner for defensive purposes as he had done all postseason; he brought in Schiraldi to start the inning instead of Stanley.



The show also featured a "Best of the Rest" which focused on, among other things, Red Sox pitcher Dennis Boyd's premature celebration. Did the "Oil Can" jinx his team by opening a bottle of champagne in the clubhouse after the second out of the tenth inning? Also, after that same second out, the scoreboard at Shea Stadium briefly displayed the message, "Congratulations, 1986 World Champion Red Sox."





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