As the Fall Classic opens as the Philadelphia Phillies take on the New York Yankees in the World Series, one of the newest members of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team has a unique connection to one of the most memorable World Series plays of all time.

Junior college transfer Bobby Buckner is the son of former major leaguer Bill Buckner.

The elder Buckner had a 20-plus year career in the major leagues in which he wore the uniform of five separate teams and pounded out 2,700 hits. The left-handed first baseman had a career batting average of .289 with 174 home runs and 1,208 runs batted in. He won the National League batting title in 1980 with a .324 average, twice led the league in doubles and was selected to the National League All-Star team in 1981. One of the top contact hitters of his time, Buckner struck out just 453 times in 2,517 games. Defensively, he played in 1,555 games at first base with only 128 errors in 13,901 chances - a .991 fielding percentage.

While those accolades have been impressive enough to earn him votes on a handful of Hall of Fame ballots, it is single a play in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series between Buckner's Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets that has earned him the most notoriety.

With a two-run lead with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Mets came back to tie the game with three straight singles off Red Sox reliever Calvin Schiraldi and a wild pitch by Bob Stanley.  Down to his final strike after fouling off several pitches, Mookie Wilson hit a grounder to first base. The ball rolled between Buckner's legs and into the right field grass allowing Ray Knight to score the game-winning run. The Mets would win game seven two days later, 8-5, leaving the Red Sox still searching for their first World Series crown since 1918 leaving the "Curse of the Bambino" intact.

"To a certain extent (the error) is what people remember him most for," said the younger Buckner. "It is unfortunate because he had always been known as a hard worker with a great work ethic. The way he hustled was unmatched except by Pete Rose."

"We don't talk about the play that much," continued the Islander. "It has always been my dad saying 'it was a big game and things happen'.  One thing people always forget is that he was a candidate for the gold glove that season and several times in his career.

"I have only seen the play on video a few times when people talk about the history of the Red Sox. It doesn't really bother me when I see it."

Now the elder Buckner has helped shape his son into a Division I college player from the background.

"He never really steered directly to baseball," said Bobby, who averaged .320 for Navarro last season after spending his freshman season at Texas. "It has always been my call. I liked to play football and basketball, but there always seemed to be more opportunity in baseball.

The supportive father has stayed in the background much of his son's career.

"He's definitely been an influence on my career, and has always been there," said the son. "But at the same time he's always tried to keep a low profile. He definitely took a laid back approach."

At Texas, Buckner was beset by hard luck as he was forced to redshirt his first season after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. His second year he played in a handful of games in the fall before transferring out.

"My sophomore year I was going to play third base and then they moved Brandon Loy over," said Buckner. "I would have played some but I wanted more of an opportunity to play everyday so I transferred to Navarro.

Here at A&M-Corpus Christi, the junior will see action in the infield.

"It doesn't matter to me where it is I play, I just want the chance to play on a regular basis and show what I can do," said Buckner.

As to what to expect from the newcomer, Buckner hopes to be known as the same type of player his dad was.

"I am a hard worker like my dad was," he said. "I'd assume some of the genetic traits he has were passed on to me."