Veteran National League umpire John Kibler died Friday in Palo Alto, Calif., at the age of 81.
Kibler served full-time from 1965 to 1989 and was considered one of the best umpires in the league throughout his tenure, earning four World Series assignments.
Red Sox fans who were alive to witness the infamous "Bill Buckner play" in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series may remember Kibler. He was the first-base umpire who called Mookie Wilson's ground-ball fair as the game-winning run crossed the plate for the Mets.
