• Blog Post by: Michael Rand
• January 4, 2011 - 4:01 PM

Subsequent curse-lifting World Series titles have helped cleanse Boston's palate of 1986. Still ... mention Bill Buckner in certain company and you're sure to make a few people cringe. As such, we were intrigued by this item over at ESPN.com:

Bill Buckner is coming back here, and in uniform, too.

The former Red Sox first baseman has been hired to manage the Brockton (Mass.) Rox, a team in the independent Can-Am League, Rox co-owner Van Schley confirmed Tuesday.

"We're thrilled," Schley said Tuesday. "They're just crossing the t's and dotting the i's on the contract."

Buckner e-mailed his acceptance of the offer to team owner Chris Carminucci over the weekend and was expected to sign his contract Tuesday. It's a two-year deal. The Rox plan to formally introduce Buckner at the team's Hot Stove Dinner Jan. 21.

Buckner, 61, will be managing a team for the first time. He was recruited to do so by Mal Fichman, a longtime independent league manager and big-league scout who, like Buckner, lives in Idaho.