Bobby Grich's last major league game was at Fenway Park, 23 years ago this month. That's the nice part of the story.
"I loved playing there, I loved the fans, I loved that they were right on top of you," said the 60-year-old Grich, who played 17 seasons, including 10 with the then-California Angels. "Boston and Detroit were my favorite places to play because the fans were part of the game."
The bad part, at least from Grich's perspective, is that his Angels lost 8-1 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, culminating one of the biggest collapses in playoff history.
Yes, even worse than the Red Sox Game 6 World Series collapse against the New York Mets a few weeks later.
The Angels led the series against the Red Sox three games to one, and were ahead 5-2 in the top of the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Three outs and the Angels would be heading to their first World Series. Ever.
With one out, Don Baylor hit a two-run homer (Bill Buckner had singled), to close it to 5-4. Dwight Evans then flied out for two outs.
The next batter, Rich Gedman, who was four-for-four at the time, was hit by a pitch.
The Angels brought in Donnie Moore with Dave Henderson up next.
The rest is history as Henderson hit a two-run homer to left-center to give the Red Sox a 6-5 lead.
What some people forget is the fact that the Angels came back in the ninth inning to tie the score — Rob Wilfong singled off Joe Sambito, scoring Ruppert Jones.
Grich, though, doesn't forget it. Because he came up two outs and the bases loaded after the score had been tied in the bottom of the ninth, with a chance to trump Henderson's homer.
Grich, though, hit a soft liner back to Red Sox pitcher Steve Crawford to end the inning.
The Red Sox eventually won the game in the 11th inning, when Henderson hit a sacrifice fly and Calvin Schiraldi closed the inning with two strikeouts and a popup.
"I see the pitch in my sleep," said Grich. "It jammed me. The problem was I was trying to hit the ball up the middle, past Crawford. In retrospect, it was a sinker. I saw it coming. I just should have recognized it sooner. I needed to hit it to left field. I could have been the hero."
In fact, that loss turned out being tragic for Moore, who apparently never was able to come to grips with the Game 5 defeat.
He played only two more lackluster seasons with the Angels before being released.
He committed suicide a year later.
"Donnie had a great year in 1985 and he had a great five months in 1986," said Grich. "What people don't realize is that the whole month of September he was on cortizone. He was worn out.
"Donnie was not a big man. He was six-foot and 190 pounds, throwing 91 miles-per-hour, trying to get away with split finger and slider (pitches). He pitched his heart out. I think he just ran out of gas by the time September and October came around."
Grich said if he has a regret over his career, which included 224 home runs, it was that he didn't play for the Red Sox. He feels his feisty demeanor probably would have gone over well.
"When I was a free agent in 1976, I was hoping the Red Sox would make an offer to me," said Grich, who played his first seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. "But they never called. I remember thinking while we were negotiating with the Angels, that if it doesn't work out, I may call Boston myself."
Grich eventually signed a then-lucrative deal — five years, $1.5 million — and the rest was history.
To go with his memory of the 1986 playoff collapse, Grich says Fenway Park was also where he had one of his fondest memories as a major league player.
"Fenway Park was the only visiting park that I got a standing ovation for making a very good play," said Grich, who played second base. "I think it was 1985, Cecil Cooper had hit a rocket (grounder) to my left. I took one step and dove, completely outstretched, parallel to the ground. I caught the ball in my web, came to a knee, and threw him out.
"The fans on the right side of the field gave me a resounding ovation afterward," recalled Grich. "I went, 'Whoa!' It really struck me. They just appreciate the game more than any other place. I will never forget that moment."
E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.
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