The "Buckner Ball" is For Sale

25 years ago, a slow chopper went under the glove of Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner…and history was made.

Now…you can own that piece of “The Saturday Night Massacre”. That’s right, the famed “Buckner Ball” is up for sale (check out the listing HERE) and owner Seth Swirsky has set his prize.

One. Million. Dollars.

“I love my collection. I don’t think I’ve ever sold anything from it,” Swirsky told The Associated Press. “But that ball, it’s time to pass it along, to let someone else enjoy it.”

You remember our good friend Swirsky, right? He bought the ball back in 2000 for $64,000 when he outbid Keith Olbermann and one of its former owners Charlie Sheen.

Well, I caught up with the musician/author/envy of all men and on this, the 25th anniversary of Game Six of the 1986 World Series…I bring to you the five favorite balls from his personal collection.

And, yeah, you can click on the picture of the ball to get the full story.

Reggie Jackson becomes “Mr. October”

October 18, 1977

In Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, Reggie Jackson made history when he hit three home runs off of three pitches from three separate pitchers. This ball is the third home run ball that Jackson hit that night. After he hit this home run, people started calling Jackson “Mr. October.”

The longest home run in All-Star Game history

July 13, 1971

In the second inning of the 1971 All-Star game, Reggie Jackson, who was a last minute substitution for the injured Tony Oliva, hit, what is considered, through serious scientific analysis, the longest home run ever recorded in professional baseball history.

The ball hit the light tower at Tiger Stadium over 400 feet from home plate and was seen to still be rising. A study done by Wayne State University says the ball was on a trajectory to travel 650 feet!

The Beatles play Shea Stadium

August 15, 1965

This baseball was signed by all four Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr…on the night that they played their historic concert at Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965.

The “Last Ball of Dodgers 1955 Season”

October 4, 1955

From 1941-1956, the Brooklyn Dodgers played the New York Yankees in the World Series seven times. Of those meetings, the Dodgers lost all, but the 1955 World Series. That year, they beat the Yankees in a seven game series and gained the only World Championship for that storied franchise.

And, of course…“The Buckner Ball”

October 25, 1986

Certain distinguishing marks on an historic baseball help tell the true story of the event. After the exciting game, Arthur Richman, the Mets’ traveling secretary, showed the winning ball to Mookie in the jubilant clubhouse. Mookie then wrote on the ball: “To Arthur, the ball won it for us. Mookie Wilson, 10/25/86.”

You see more from Swirsky’s personal collection (and learn about his other passions) over at his website.

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The “Buckner Ball” is For Sale

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper