It took 21 years for Red Sox fans to forgive Bill Buckner for 1986 World Series loss, yet Phllies fans embraced Mitch Williams after 1993 World Series collapse

All professional sports cities have their heroes.

They also have their goats as well.

What qualifies as being a goat?

Just ask Bill Buckner. He just happened to be the Boston Red Sox first baseman that forever will be known for a botched ground ball going between his legs.

That play happened in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series that eventually led to the New York Mets coming from behind to win that game and the next for the championship.

Now, all is forgiven between the Red Sox fans and Buckner.

It only took 21 years to do it.

Buckner returned to Boston to throw out the first ball for their 2008 home opener at Fenway Park, the first time he’s been back since the botched play.

.Red Sox fans aren’t mad anymore. The long hated “Curse of the Bambino” was broken when the Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007.

Buckner blamed media hype for him and his family having to live with the shame of the 1986 World Series.

Mitch Williams the same as Buckner.

Philadelphia is a tough sports town. Some say it’s tougher than Boston will ever be. Afterall, it’s the city that booed Santa Claus.

The Phillies baseball team has its own goat. His name is Mitch Williams, the relief pitcher that forever will be known for throwing the home run ball to Toronto’s Joe Carter to win the 1993 World Series.

Williams' nickname is “Wild Thing” like Charlie Sheen’s character “Rick Vaughn” in the movie “Major League.”

Williams got his nickname because he “pitched like his hair was on fire” as noted by Chicago Cubs teammate Mark Grace. He was known for walking the bases loaded then striking out the side.

“Wild Thing” had 43 saves for the Phillies in 1993, with most of them coming when he got into trouble first.

Williams was good right through the National League Championship Series when the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves for the pennant.

But he lost something off his fastball in the World Series.

Phillies manager Jim Fregosi kept using Williams until his meltdown with Carter.

Philadelphia fans acted the same way Boston fans did with Buckner. But they forgave Williams a lot sooner.

Williams stayed in Philadelphia area

“Wild Thing” was traded to the Houston Astros after the 1993 season. Williams was greeted with a standing ovation upon his return to Veterans Stadium. The fans remembered the good things about Williams helping them win the pennant.

Up until the end, he made it exciting, perhaps too much for the fans nervous systems.

Late Phillies broadcaster Richie Ashburn said during the playoffs, “This guy is going to have half the Delaware Valley in a trauma unit.”

Remember, the Phillies have won only one World Series (1980) since its inception in 1883. “Wild Thing” had a place in the fans heart, regardless of how the season ended.

Williams pitched for the California Angels in 1995 and Kansas City Royals in 1997 before retiring as a player.

He eventually settled in the Philadelphia suburbs of southern New Jersey where his wife is from.

Williams bought a bowling center near his home and became manager of the independent minor league team, the Atlantic City Surf.

Wild Thing a hit as TV analyst

For the past two years, Williams has been a baseball analyst for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia.

He is a co-host of Phillies Post-Game Live giving his insight into that day’s game.

Williams is very articulate, showing the same passion that earned him his nickname. He’s not afraid to give his opinion, good, bad or indifferent.

For a guy who used to fall of the mound after every pitch, it’s quite a step up. Williams is showing that he knows more about the game then fans were originally led to believe. One can see Williams doing national broadcasts in the future, the same as former Phillies teammate John Kruk currently does on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight.

It would be a treat to see those two work together again, perhaps trading insults.

After all, the both went into the bar business at old Veterans Stadium stadium club for one season sharing their memories with ordinary fans.