1986 World Series Game 6 Re-Enacted in RBI Baseball
So last week had the first day since I've been keeping the blog that I missed an entry. I felt bad about this lack of discipline, and no doubt you were upset as well. I wanted to post the little project that I was working on that diverted my attention from posting about music. I decided that I wanted to enter this YouTube Cybersmack contest and win $25,000 for creating the best internet viral video, so I decided to re-enact Game Six of the 1986 World Series in RBI Baseball, my favorite video game of all time. Game Six is one of the most surreal, unbelievable displays of sports in history, and hopefully now that the Sox have emerged victorious in the World Series, it can be seen more as an utterly stupifying comeback, and less of a devastating choke job.
So this took a long time, and I heard more of the RBI theme music in those hours than a man ever should. But I also learned a good deal about the game. Namely these two things:
-Vin Scully is a great announcer. During the 20 minute plus bottom of the tenth, the other "color man" in the booth chimes in for about 3 different comments, one of them just being "Golly!" The difference between a run of the mill broadcaster and a hall of famer is very apparent, but I cut most of the color guy out because of time constraints.
-Secondly, the blame that Bill Buckner has taken for this loss over the years is just shockingly high compared to the Red Sox pitching staff. They are the true people who choked the game away. Obviously Buckner made a terrible error, but they put the Red Sox in an unbelievable position, one that you can't imagine any of today's modern super-closers ever ending up in.
Without further ado, here is the video: The 1986 World Series Game 6 Re-Enacted in RBI Baseball. Unfortunately it is about 6 minutes longer than the three minute YouTube contest limit, but I hope that people enjoy the video even if it doesn't result in a major cash payday for yours truly.
UPDATE: Well this has proven far more popular than I imagined. I'm glad that everyone liked it. Looks like I would have had a good shot in that stupid YouTube contest if not for the 3 minute maximum rule that I didn't notice until after I had completed the video. Damnation. Well if you'd like, you can download a smaller version of the video here.
Comments
That was the most entertaining 8:30 I've spent online in a long time.
The 1986 WS are particularly enjoyable for me because I have Keith Hernandez's autobiography 'If At First' in which he details that game, how he was feeling, how shocked he was, etc, etc...so seeing it re-played (in RBI baseball, bringing back childhood memories nonetheless) was awesome.
Kudos sir.
Big kudos.
Great site too.
PeaCe.
Posted by: Cousy | April 9, 2006 10:12 PM
that's brilliant. good job.
Posted by: rob | April 10, 2006 08:04 AM
If 2004 hadn't happened, I'd be dead in my cube right now. As it is, this is brilliant. Excellent work.
Posted by: Bullfrog | April 10, 2006 09:30 AM
Truly awesome.
Posted by: Mel | April 10, 2006 09:45 AM
Crazy awesome.
Posted by: Dex | April 10, 2006 09:46 AM
That was awesome.
Posted by: Daniel | April 10, 2006 09:58 AM
Brilliant! I'm speechless.
Posted by: Mike | April 10, 2006 10:09 AM
In a word: Awesome.
Posted by: Montecore's Revenge | April 10, 2006 10:12 AM
This is one of the great accomplishments of Internet history. I'm floored. Good luck in the contest.
Posted by: Kevin Gray | April 10, 2006 10:19 AM
Fantastic
I have no speech
Posted by: Ult | April 10, 2006 10:32 AM
Matt and I both just took a break from writing or thesises, theses.. (thesi?) To watch this together. It was very romantic.
Posted by: Grey | April 10, 2006 10:40 AM
awesome. brings back great memories.
Posted by: gary busey | April 10, 2006 11:05 AM
Listen...I work in the Internet. I read all the blogs. I've seen all the videos and emails that go around. This is damn near the best thing I've ever seen on the Internet. Job well done, my friend.
And I'm a diehard, lifelong Red Sox fan.
Posted by: Jay | April 10, 2006 11:11 AM
I can say that this is easily the most awesome thing that I have ever, ever seen.
Posted by: TempoMental | April 10, 2006 11:12 AM
Brilliant. Completely and absolutely brilliant. Nice work!
Posted by: Joe Hass | April 10, 2006 11:37 AM
I'm 28 years old and have seen some pretty damn cool things in my short life. But this was by far the most amazing thing I've ever seen. I don't think it'll ever be passed, even if I live to be 100.
Posted by: Gipper | April 10, 2006 11:39 AM
This is the greatest achievement in the history of mankind.
Posted by: Mike | April 10, 2006 11:40 AM
Absolutely amazing, how did you do it?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 10, 2006 11:42 AM
This is brilliant! Well-done!
Posted by: Andrew | April 10, 2006 11:50 AM
Fantastic. I can't say I've seen anything cooler in my life, and that includes the birth of my first child.
Posted by: Jip | April 10, 2006 11:53 AM
Wow. Just wow.
Posted by: Patchy | April 10, 2006 12:13 PM
To think the original Nintendo technology is useless in 2006. Well done my friend well done!!!!!!!
Posted by: ANA | April 10, 2006 12:16 PM
Brilliant! Just brilliant!
Posted by: lazyJ | April 10, 2006 12:41 PM
Dude, that's unreal. GREAT work -- brilliant idea, fantastic execution.
Posted by: Ace Cowboy | April 10, 2006 12:47 PM
In response to "Jip" and in deference to "RBI Game 6", I have to say that the birth of my first child was way cooler. In fact, his name was "Conor", too...
Posted by: sandy | April 10, 2006 12:56 PM
Buckner's zoink is just priceless at the end. He looked more confused in the game than he did in real life. Well Done!
Posted by: Brian | April 10, 2006 01:21 PM
conor-
just stumbled across this on my favorite sports blog, deadspin.com, and i was damn surprised to see the nationalhighfiveday.com text as i was checking out the different stories. amazing man. nice work. your dad enjoyed his beer the other weekend... you and duffy owe me a beer.
Posted by: Dave Norton | April 10, 2006 01:31 PM
Does anyone else see the humor in making a video for a YouTube contest and then playing the video on a Google video player?
Posted by: austin | April 10, 2006 02:18 PM
That is fantastic! That must have been a LOT of hard work!
Posted by: boohiss | April 10, 2006 02:50 PM
Ow! It hurts even in RBI ... Cool, and thanks for ruining my day (again!) :-)
Posted by: Laurie | April 10, 2006 03:06 PM
This is so awesome.
Most entertaining.
I love the commentary while watching the zonked Buckner.
Brilliant! Thanks.
Posted by: Max | April 10, 2006 03:44 PM
I've never felt so good wasting 8:39 of my life. I don't know how you did it but I applaud you.
Posted by: austin | April 10, 2006 03:53 PM
That has to be one of the coolest things ive seen ever.....is there a way to download it? I wanna keep this one lol
Posted by: john | April 10, 2006 04:03 PM
good show, old boy! good show!
Posted by: rockit | April 10, 2006 04:52 PM
That was the greatest internet gaming video I have ever seen!
Brilliant work my friend == I will send to all my fellow Mets fans (and perhaps a few BoSox fans as they just won in 2004 and can probably relive this without losing too much sleep!)
Posted by: Jake | April 10, 2006 05:10 PM
thats great. i would trim the first few mintues off and send the shorter version for the contest
Posted by: charlie bucket | April 10, 2006 05:24 PM
Great job!!! That was a great idea!
Posted by: Dale | April 10, 2006 06:52 PM
Even though I know their going to lose and we've already won it in 2004 it doesnt make it any less painful. I kept saying we got this thing put away. of course the announcers didnt help by jinxing us.
Posted by: Ski | April 10, 2006 07:11 PM
Sir, this is phenomenal.
Posted by: Mark H. | April 10, 2006 07:29 PM
This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every Met fan needs to see this :)
Posted by: Maia | April 10, 2006 08:01 PM
Anyone that loves Ribbie like I do definitey appreciates that video...Masterfully done. Here's to the greatest sports game ever invented.
Posted by: JFreed | April 10, 2006 08:17 PM
Al Gore must be proud that his invention has led to such a mind-blowing display of genius.
In the interest of being fair and balanced, perhaps someday you can also re-create the 1986 ALCS with the Sox and Dave Henderson coming back off Donnie Moore (RIP) with Al Michaels doing play-by-play?
Posted by: Ian | April 10, 2006 08:33 PM
This is tremendous. Nothing short of brilliant. Note: The color man was Joe Garagiola and while he said virtually nothing on this edit, he was a fine color man in his day w/ Scully on NBC.
Posted by: Sabr | April 10, 2006 08:47 PM
Conor, brilliant! first i find out you know WHFS and you're from back in the 'hood. and then you're a Dead fan....and now a baseball fan!! LOL i'll look forward to my Dodgers laying waste to your Padres this year...
rgds
will
Posted by: walbers | April 10, 2006 09:33 PM
i'm blown away.
Posted by: eric | April 10, 2006 09:35 PM
i'm blown away.
Posted by: eric | April 10, 2006 09:36 PM
Brilliant, brilliant work.
I'd keep an eye on your email inbox; you'll probably be getting offers from ESPN or Fox Sports to screen this on TV
Posted by: UnnDunn | April 10, 2006 09:37 PM
this is incredible. the patience you must have had to get all the necessary shots! my hats are off to you - all of them!
Posted by: michaelallroy | April 10, 2006 09:46 PM
i'd forgotten what an incredible at-bat mookie wilson had.
Posted by: eric | April 10, 2006 09:57 PM
You have just made my decade...as a die-hard Mets fan, I was on the edge of my seat during that game, and sreamed in excitement for hours after it, and Game 7 was over. My sincere thanks for reliving that great piece of history!
Posted by: Andy | April 10, 2006 11:04 PM
I grew up in suburban NJ in the 1980s, and this is still (easily) the higlight of my sports fandom.
The box score is interesting too -- http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=198610250NYN -- I didn't realize the Mets played 17 men that night.
Also, Wilson was 0-4 going into that inning.
An unusual game all around.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg | April 11, 2006 03:44 AM
Wilson wasn't 0 for 4 coming in to the 10th, he was 1 for 4. He singled in the 5th. That last at bat wasn't a hit, it was an error.
Posted by: John Howard | April 11, 2006 08:09 AM
As a lifelong Red Sox fan who lived through every painful pitch of that game, this was... interesting. However, I am glad that someone sees that Bill Buckner was wrongly demonized about this. Schiraldi, and some extent Stanley really are the big goats.
Posted by: mike the analyst | April 11, 2006 09:09 AM
Awesome video. Lots of fun to watch. I love the Player Of The Game bit!
Technical question -- how were you able to keep re-doing the bottom of the 10th in putting the video together? Were you using an emulator and just restoring from frozen states over and over? I imagine that's the only way you could really do it without actually playing an entire game every time. I'd be interested to learn how many "takes" it took to do the entire bottom of the 10th accurately also....great job!
Posted by: Alex | April 11, 2006 09:46 AM
John:
You're right. Thank you. :)
mike:
And let's not forget that it was Game 6. The Mets had to win Game 7 too.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg | April 11, 2006 10:09 AM
This is amazing! I'm in the process of modding a laptop into a multi-console emulator for my TV--RBI is officiallly on the list of 'must downloads.' I help maintain a blog for a site called Bolt, a free creative network for poeple to post their work for others to comment on. I'd love to share your video with our audience. It's exactly the kind of modern creativity that we are trying to celebrate. Check out the site (bolt.com) and contact me if you're interested in being featured. Thanks!
Posted by: Luke McCormick | April 11, 2006 12:34 PM
Great work. I heard about this on the radio this morning and had to check it out. I had forgotten about that game and this really brings back the memories for me. Thanks, SRC
Posted by: shaun | April 11, 2006 01:02 PM
I was 12 years old on that night in 1986, and sitting in the right field stands. I was also an RBI Baseball freak growing up. That video was the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever seen. Thank you.
Posted by: Myke Jacobs | April 11, 2006 01:04 PM
Outstanding Job.
I was directed here from a hockey site, but this made my afternoon.
Posted by: HM_93 | April 11, 2006 01:22 PM
Congratulations, this is unbelievable. For me the two most interesting parts of the video are:
1. Showing Marty Barrett as the Miller Lite Player of the Game, that was hilarious.
2. The music at the end when you showed who won. I used to play this game, literally, for hours with a friend of mine and it gushed memories back to me.
Thank you for sharing it. I hope the thanks don't make it more special, because I would have to believe that this one of those examples where the reward is the journey.
Posted by: Tim Taylor | April 11, 2006 02:02 PM
Thank you that was freakin amazing. If I had 25 grand i would give it to you
Posted by: Anonymous | April 11, 2006 02:18 PM
It must of taken forever to get all of the different plays to work out just like they were announced. Outstanding!
Posted by: Dr. Forrester | April 11, 2006 04:18 PM
even from a redsox fan...it was great...
Posted by: dean | April 11, 2006 05:20 PM
A masterpiece.
Posted by: Bill Leonard | April 11, 2006 05:33 PM
Unbelievable job you did here? How did you get Kevin Mitchell on the Mets?
Posted by: Jdiesel | April 11, 2006 05:35 PM
You should try to sell it to the Mets. They can afford to give you 25k
Posted by: jdiesel | April 11, 2006 05:36 PM
Clever shit like this is what makes the Interweb and blogsphere worth surfing at work!
Posted by: MW | April 11, 2006 06:31 PM
Fantastic Job. Too bad you could not have the Bob Murphy call of the Buckneer error.
Posted by: NJTank | April 11, 2006 06:32 PM
Man, that was awesome... as a met fan who was 6 years old in 1986, I really didn't get the experience, but RBI baseball re-enactment, just awesome man
Posted by: Greg | April 11, 2006 07:31 PM
Thank you for that 8 minutes of enjoyment!
Posted by: Bob Bobakanoosh | April 12, 2006 05:29 AM
what else needs to be said, conor. brilliant!
Posted by: greg | April 12, 2006 05:42 AM
Cool vid. Why does the volume drop way down around 6 minutes in, though?
Posted by: D | April 12, 2006 07:43 AM
that made up for years of listening to yankee fans in new york talk about how great their team is... this just reminded me how great that mets team was and that 1986 world series game 6 was one of the best sports moments i will ever experience in my life... i was only 12 at the time, but don't know if another moment in sports will ever beat that.....
Posted by: Anonymous | April 12, 2006 09:13 AM
I was a 9 year old, die-hard Mets fan when this game went down (still a die-hard Mets fan of course). The double dose of nostalgia combining the game audio with RBI baseball visuals gave me chills.
Well done, enter it in the contest anyway!
Posted by: Bruce | April 12, 2006 11:15 AM
Awesome. Simply awesome my friend.
Posted by: Darryl Livingstone | April 12, 2006 12:08 PM
"Today's Super-Closer?" I hope that's sarcasm there. I seem to remember "Super-Closers" such as Rivera and Lidge blowing some pretty big games.
Still, the trio of McNamara/Schiraldi/Stanley is as much to blame as Buckner, if not more.
Oh, and this is the greatest thing ever. Great work!
Posted by: Jon | April 12, 2006 12:08 PM
That was unbelievable. You are my hero for making that re-enactment. Thanks for brightening my day.
Posted by: Chuck | April 12, 2006 12:50 PM
That was great. I was 17 at the time and was watching with my father and sister. He wanted the Mets, we didn't...we were making fun of him until that comeback. great job my friend.
Posted by: MJJacobs | April 12, 2006 01:04 PM
I forogt the blah blah blah blah stuff.
Posted by: fairest | April 12, 2006 01:28 PM
hey, how do you get Buckner to make the error at the end?
Posted by: Eugene | April 12, 2006 01:39 PM
This belongs on one of those Priceless MasterCard commercials. Great work!
Let's Go Mets Go!
Let's Go Mets!
Posted by: Barber | April 12, 2006 04:15 PM
This is terrific. I work for the Oklahoma RedHawks, AAA affiliate of the Rangers (yeah, I know...) I'd like to get permission to show this video on our JumboTron. I can't get you paid, but I WILL give you ALL credit. We can work that out. My name is Mike - Contact me at rowdie1968@yahoo.com if interested.
Posted by: Rowdie | April 13, 2006 10:03 AM
Well done. It is fun to go back in time before kids, homes, cars, mortgages ect. My good friend and I dedicated a good portion of out lives to that game as well as others. Any time I get to drift back to those carefree evenings of claiming that the game somehow cheated for him I simply laugh and smile. Thanks for bringing the memory. On a side note we used to call out the name Mookieeeeeee on a regular basis as well!!!!
Posted by: BJ | April 13, 2006 10:08 AM
Incredible work. That is amazing. I'll send this link to a lot of RBI fans I know.
Posted by: Jeremy | April 13, 2006 10:45 AM
This is so incredible, we have linked it to our blog.
www.thebiglead.com
Truly a work of art.
Posted by: TheBigLead | April 13, 2006 01:51 PM
As a die-hard Met fan this made my day. They should show this at Shea for the 20th anniversary celebrations! Great Job!
Posted by: Tom | April 13, 2006 03:47 PM
Great stuff!
I saw a link to this on The Sporting News message board, and loved it. I sent an email to a bunch of my friends.
This will be your moment of cyber-fame, my friend!
Posted by: Glenn F | April 13, 2006 05:01 PM
By the way, here is the URL for the message board where I saw it:
http://forums-beta.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=82279
Posted by: Glenn F | April 13, 2006 05:05 PM
That was absolutely awesome!
One interesting historical note: to this day, Mookie swears that he would have beaten Buckner to the bag, even if Buckner had fielded the ball cleanly. He might have a point; Mookie had wheels, I don't think Bob Stanley would have gotten over in time to take a throw from Buckner, and Buckner was pretty far from the bag. It's possible, of course, that he's just trying to take some heat off the most famous World Series goat in history.
Posted by: Phil | April 14, 2006 06:02 AM
Can you believe it. You have cancer and D.Card says "what you're going to die with out paying your bill!
Bite Me
Posted by: Joe Camiola | April 14, 2006 08:32 AM
WOW!!
Posted by: WOW | April 14, 2006 12:31 PM
It is brilliant - thanks!
While you are right - Buckner can hardly be the only guy blamed but I should point out that there are about 3 reliable relievers and even Rivera blows one every few years ... but grat job on the video!
Posted by: jbelkin | April 14, 2006 02:16 PM
The best thing I've ever seen on the internet. THE BEST. AMAZING, simply
AMAZING. Forward this to all your friends., hopefully one day they'll show it on the BIG Screen at Shea. WOW, what an awsome display.
This brought back lots of memories. Absolutely the best thing I've ever seen
in my 15 years of internet experience. If anyone knows how to send to the
N.Y. Mets, please do so.
Kal
Posted by: Kal | April 14, 2006 05:42 PM
I second that, (I made the video.) I think it should definitely be shown on the Mets' JumboTron in one of the spots where they show scenes from Braveheart or Animal House or some other dramatic moment to get the crowd pumped up. If anyone knows anybody in the organization, send this their way!
Posted by: Conor | April 14, 2006 06:05 PM
Awesome! I heard about this on the Steve Czaban FOX Sports morning show a couple days ago. Absolute brilliance.
Posted by: Bill | April 14, 2006 06:46 PM
WoW! Bringing back all sorts of great memories. Couldn't begin to count the hours I've played RBI Baseball and you reenacted what may be my best sports memory (even though I was 7). Amazing. Great work.
Posted by: Chris | April 15, 2006 12:52 AM
you....are....a....very.....cruel......man...... with, obviously, way too much time on his hands. great job allowing my to relive the worst 9 minutes of my f-ing lifetime. i laughed my ass off!
Posted by: joe sweeney | April 15, 2006 04:55 AM
Wow! Brings it all back and a truly amazing game (and re-creation!!!). I was a Univ student back in '86 who bet $50 on Red Sox to win the series. The Mets miracle comeback cut into by beer budget for a while. Ouch!!!
Very entertaining. Back to 2006...Go Red Sox (or Twins!!!)
Jim Calgary, AB, CANADA
Posted by: Jim | April 15, 2006 03:01 PM
Coolest thing I have ever seen. Period. I linked through Yahoo. I was laughing the whole time. Brings back memories of playing RBI Baseball and getting in fights over it. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Posted by: Joe L. | April 15, 2006 08:08 PM
Dear sir, from a Yankee fan.
this was a great video to watch and you did an excellent job with it. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: mike mcstay | April 15, 2006 10:01 PM
wow.. just wow...
marty barrett the miller lite mvp!
great stuff
Posted by: k.o. | April 16, 2006 03:47 AM
Absolutely awesome...I just have to say that there are times and events in a person's life that we all can recall when/where we were when it happened. A few of these examples would be where were you when Kennedy got shot, the Challenger exploded or when the towers were attacked. If there were one event that this was the case with in my case it would be the bottom of the 10th inning of this very game. I recall I was 12 years old and my family was all out at a local restaurant celebrating my father's birthday. This very game was playing over the television in the lounge and I could see it from my seat. I still recall the amazement from some of the patrons as well as the anguish from the others whom were Red Sox fans. I can look back at it this day and still it seems like yesterday! Thanks for rekindling that memory!
Posted by: Jon A | April 16, 2006 12:28 PM
I know I'm late to the party, but it's still awesome. Mega-applause.
Posted by: Shiggy | April 16, 2006 12:30 PM
I played this game forever with my brother Adam (still do... when the NES works). I remember watching this game and crying that the Mets were gonna lose (I love the NL) in my living room and then the most amazing play happened. I live in San Diego too and I can't tell you how great this clip is...it is still the most emotional sports moment I've ever had and fused with RBI? Forget it...
Posted by: Will | April 16, 2006 02:56 PM
That was awesome! Shear brilliant.
Posted by: Jay | April 16, 2006 04:23 PM
Still hurts, great job on this.
Posted by: Sen | April 16, 2006 07:26 PM