The baseball world lost an iconic former player this week when Bill Buckner passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with dementia.
Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine, who was close friends with Buckner since coming up through the Los Angeles Dodgers organization together as young players, joined RADIO.COM’s “Big Time Baseball” podcast with hosts Josh Lewin and Jon Heyman to reflect on Buckner's life and career.
“I had spoken to Buck a couple days ago, and the conversation was he wanted to meet me on the other side," Valentine said. "He knew it was going to be his time very shortly. ... I'm sad that I've lost a great friend.”
Buckner amassed 2,715 hits in 22 sterling big league seasons with the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels and Kansas City Royals, and is prominently associated with a crucial fielding error for the Red Sox in the 1986 World Series.
In addition to Valentine joining them to remember Buckner, Lewin and Heyman also dig into Cody Bellinger’s MVP-caliber season for the Dodgers, the streaking Oakland Athletics, the potential retirement of Dustin Pedroia and how the Minnesota Twins have emerged as an offensive juggernaut. They explored how the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins might approach the trade deadline. Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward also joined as a guest.
Heyman wrapped up by offering an inside scoop on where free-agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel may land, along with a few other nuggets.