Fred Merkle was a 19 year old first baseman with the New York Giants when they played the Chicago Cubs in September of 1908. A baserunning error in the ninth inning cost the Giants the game, and eventually the Pennant that year. Merkle forever after was known as "Bonehead" because of the "Merkle Boner" play. For the rest of his life, his thoughts would stray to "what if I had touched second".
Bill Buckner was one of the key players on the 1986 Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox were tied in Game 6 of the World Series with two outs and two on in the bottom of the tenth against the Mets. Buckner made a defensive error and the ball hit by Mookie Wilson rolled slowly through his legs, scoring the winning run. For all his long career, this is what Bill Buckner is remembered for and what he will remember.
Fred Snodgrass was the center fielder for the New York Giants in the 1912 World Series. In the deciding game, he dropped a fly ball in the tenth that led to the winning run. Despite making a spectacular catch the very next play, all anyone remembers about Snodgrass is the dropped fly ball. When he died at the age of 86, the New York Times headline was as follows: "Fred Snodgrass, 86, Dead; Ball Player Muffed 1912 Fly." And you can bet Snodgrass never forgot it either.
However, they were baseball players. Baseball is a transient thing. Passions flare, but there is forgiveness. Even for Bill Buckner. Baseball is a game.
They never took a life.