Mets vs. Red Sox, 1986
By 1986, it had been only 68 years since the Red Sox had won the World Series. But even the most pessimistic of fans must have thought the Curse of the Bambino was about to come to an end. It was Game 6 of the World Series against the New York Mets, and the Sox had already more than held their own against the heavily favored Mets, taking a 3-2 series lead into the game. Starting pitcher Roger Clemens went seven innings and was set to get the win for his side and put an end to Boston's misery. But nothing is ever easy for the Sox: the game wound up going into extra innings, at which time Bostonians proceeded to once again believe as their charges took a 5-3 lead in the top of the 10th. NBC displayed a graphic naming Sox player Bruce Hurst as World Series MVP, and Shea Stadium's scoreboard congratulated the Red Sox as world champions. These would not turn out to be good omens. After recording two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Boston's world began to unravel. Down to his team's last strike, Mets catcher Gary Carter hit a single, which was followed by hits by Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight. During Mookie Wilson's at bat, a wild pitch tied the game at 5. Wilson then proceeded to hit a slow ground ball that, unbelievably, rolled through first baseman Bill Buckner's legs, resulting in Knight's scoring the winning run. The Sox, to their credit, took a 3-0 lead in Game 7, but it was to no avail, as the Mets came back again, with Buckner singled out (some would say unfairly) for the collapse. When the Sox finally won a World Series again, in 2004, you couldn't blame Buckner for being more relieved than most.