According to an ESPN interview, Sen. John Kerry claimed to be just "30 yards away" from Bill Buckner's infamous error in game 6 of the 1986 World Series. That fateful game was held at Shea Stadium in New York on October 25, 1986.
However, thanks to a sleuthing Political Wire reader, a Boston Globe article (from the archive) says Kerry was in Boston that night at a banquet:
N.M. GOVERNOR DETAILS HIS STATE'S SUCCESS STORY
Published on October 26, 1986
Author(s): Peter J. Howe, Globe Staff
New Mexico's governor, who holds the highest elected post of any Hispanic nationwide, and the head of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination were given awards for political excellence last night by the Massachusetts Latino Democratic Committee.
More than 250 people -- including Gov. Dukakis, US Sen. John Kerry and an array of state Cabinet members -- attended the banquet at the World Trade Center in South Boston honoring Gov. Toney Anaya and Alex Rodriguez.
Kerry makes the same claim in a USA Today piece: "I was about 30 yards away from Billy Buckner when that ball wiggled away. I had cracked a bottle of champagne, was jumping up and down ā prematurely."
Not the biggest issue in the world, but if Kerry was there I seriously doubt they had bottles of champagne in the stands behind the Mets dugout.
Update: Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan issued this response: "Kerry attended an event in Massachusetts in the early evening. He hopped on a shuttle flight to NYC and got to the game in progress. The Sox were up 3-2 in the series and on the verge of possibly winning the whole thing. What Red Sox fans would not jump through hoops to be there in person?"