Mookie Wilson talks ’86 Mets, Blue Jays, Expos and desire to manage

Mookie Wilson's name is etched in sporting lore forever.

His slow ground ball down the first-base line that made it between Bill Buckner's legs and scored Ray Knight to cap a highly improbable New York Mets comeback victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, is as iconic a play as there is. Mookie and the Mets went on to win the second title in franchise history (and last to date) a few days later in Game 7.

Like Buckner, Wilson has been defined by what transpired on that October night nearly 30 years ago, although to a far different end.

In May, the veteran of 12 Major League Baseball seasons, who played for the Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, released his autobiography entitled "Mookie" in which he talks about his life in baseball and beyond.

Eh Game had a chance to talk with the former speedy, switch-hitting outfielder, the primary focus is the Canadian content in his career. Here is the Q and A:

NA: You got the infamous slow roller down the line from the 1986 World Series out of the way right off the bat (pardon the pun) in the book rather than build up to it. What was the reasoning behind this?

MW: We decided we wanted to do it first, we knew people wanted to hear my account and we got it out of the way. It was done purposely because there was so much more I wanted touch on in the book.

NA: Beyond "Game Six" and that 10-pitch at bat against Bob Stanley, how do you want to be remembered?

MW: I just want people to remember that I was a professional, that I took the game seriously and the passion I had when I played. I was far from perfect but exciting to watch and played baseball the way it was supposed to be played and there is so much more I contributed to the game of baseball than just that play.

NA: Moving on to our Canadian theme, you were teammates in New York with Rusty Staub who was a popular Montreal Expo, in the book you write about how was a mentor in your early days with the Mets. Can you elaborate on how he helped you?

MW: When people think about Rusty, they think about Le Grand Orange (his nickname in Montreal). The people that played with him, they knew him as a professional hitter. When I played he was a bench player and a little older but I have never seen a guy more prepared for one at-bat than Rusty was. He was the ultimate pro and so wise when it came to hitting.

He taught me things about hitting that I had never considered and did it in a very calm way. For example - how to hit a Nolan Ryan fastball. I thought I was a good fastball hitter, but not a good Nolan Ryan fastball hitter!

He was always willing to help in any way he can and even at the end of his career, still doing whatever he could do to help the team.

Gary Carter was also a beloved Expo before he joined you and the Mets in 1985. In what might be a surprising to readers - you give an unflattering account of his impression on the team when he first arrived? Did you have any second thoughts about writing this?

MW: I didn't have any concerns. Gary became a very dear friend, his passing was a very sad day especially for those of us that were able to be his teammate.

I wanted to be as transparent and open as I possibly could when I wrote the book, I wouldn't have done it any justice if I painted it as a beautiful love affair.

Gary was not well liked when he came over. Gary was being Gary and we didn't think he was genuine.

It took a year before people warmed up to him, till he became one of the guys.

When we (Wilson and his former Mets teammates) found out he had cancer it affected us all. We had stayed in contact, he visited people and gave himself to people. We were in shock for a while, there was no warning, it just happened and then he was gone.

As a Met, your Canadian road trips each season would be to Montreal, what memories do you have about playing in the city?

MW: The one thing that stuck out for me is what a beautiful city it was. We really enjoyed it, They had some pretty good teams but we always thought the fans weren't into the game.

Sometimes we get spoiled with the way the fans in cities like St. Louis, Los Angeles and San Franciso treat their team, they are really passionate and showed it, we didn't see that in Montreal although I'm sure they had their faithful (core).

I think a lot of it had to do with the stadium, it was out in the middle of nowhere, so far from downtown. It was a big empty dome and wasn't a good atmosphere for baseball.

The guys on the Mets enjoyed the city (laughs), but not playing there.

Would you like to see Major League Baseball return to Montreal?

MW: I'd like to see it happen. They should have been given a better opportunity to keep the team there in the first place. The city deserves to have a team.

You give a very thorough account of the 1986 National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Mets and the Houston Astros in which you mention that you detested playing in domed stadiums (Houston then played in the Astrodome) - what were your first impressions in 1989 when getting traded to the Blue Jays whose home stadium was then known as SkyDome?

MW: When I was traded they had just moved (from Exhibition Stadium). I had heard about the SkyDome but had no idea what it was like. It was different from other domes because it was retractable and (when it was open) you played outside.

It wasn't like playing in Houston, there was something about being in an enclosure I didn't like, the turf was different as SkyDome as well, I really had a ball playing there.

Although the bulk of your book is about your time with the Mets, you were a part of two Blue Jays teams that won the American League East in 1989 and 1991, can you expand on your time playing in Toronto?

MW: I knew there was a buzz (surrounding the team) because I knew some of the players, I played against them in spring training.

As good as that team was, we should have went farther in all three of those years. The Oakland Athletics beat us one year and the Minnesota Twins the other in the American League Championship Series.

The '89 team was fantastic, we were missing a couple of pieces - mainly one more bat would have helped. Oakland had guys who were just unbelievable and they just out-hit us.

With Minnesota, you just ran into a team that was hot. I saw they same thing happen in 1988 NLCS with the Mets and Dodgers, we hadn't lost to them all year (Wilson was actually off by a game, The Mets went 10-1 vs. the Dodgers in the '88 regular season). It was the same thing in 1991 with the Twins, we beat them all year. That (Jays) team was very good, I got injured in '91 and was lucky to make it through the year. With my bad shoulder I couldn't do a whole lot to help the team.

With the Mets, you played with the infamous hard living "Scum Bunch" comprised of Danny Heep, Jesse Orosco and Doug Sisk. You mention that while with Blue Jays you noticed a few guys (George Bell, Pat Borders, Rob Ducey and Dave Steib) that could give have given them a run for their money - how do they compare?

MW: They were totally different characters altogether. The guys on the Blue Jays were fun loving and got into their share of mischief.

The Scum Bunch looked at the game differently and looked at life differently, I wouldn't even try to compare the two (laughs)

You state that you still have the desire to coach and manage and lament that you were not given a proper chance to show what you could do in a coaching capacity with the Mets and a managerial role with their affiliates. It is also noted in your book that you feel the team has tried to distance itself from the volatile '86 World Series team and that has led to a lack of coaching/managerial and front office jobs for those players within the organization. One of your former teammates - John Gibbons is managing the Blue Jays, would you like to join them in a coaching role?

MW: I do have an interest in working with the Jays. I always had an interest because I liked the city and organization.

I like to go through the proper channels. I would never impose my friendship on anyone for a position in baseball.

My position has to be where I have some value other than the value of a friendship.

Gibby is a good baseball man and has always been a good baseball man. He can be a little edgy sometimes but that's just Gibby. He had a great career going till he got injured and I'm sure he looks back on it. I know I do because I know what type of player he was.

Would I welcome the opportunity to work with him? I would.

(With any organization) My only demand is that I want to be in a position where I can make a difference, I don't want to have a title without a responsibility.

People should know I did have a great time in Toronto, if it wasn't so cold in the winter I would probably live there. It would be great to have an opportunity to return.

Lastly, how did you get the nickname Mookie? I didn't see an explanation in the book

MW: (Laughs) It's not in the book cause I have no idea how I got it. All my life I have had no idea where it came from.

I know people are looking for this great story but it's just not there - maybe that's a story in itself - my given name is William Hayward

When is the last time someone called you that?

MW: (pause - laughs) - A long time, I can't even remember.

Anything you would like to add?

MW: There is a lot more to the book than just Mookie Wilson the ball payer - it's not just about my career, it's about me.

Follow Neil Acharya on Twitter: @Neil_Acharya