Bucky Dent

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Bucky Dent (1970s)
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Bucky Dent (1970s)

Russell Earl "Bucky" Dent (b. November 25, 1951), born Russell Earl O'Dey, is an American former Major League Baseball player and manager. He earned two World Series rings as the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978, and was the World Series MVP in 1978. Dent is most famous for his home run in a tie-breaker game against the Boston Red Sox at the end of the 1978 season. Boston had led the AL East by as much 14 games that season.

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[edit] Early career

Although Dent was born in Savannah, Georgia, he grew up in Hialeah, Florida graduating from Hialeah High School. Dent was the sixth pick in the 1970 major league draft. By the age of 21, he was playing shortstop for the Chicago White Sox. He wore uniform number 30 on the White Sox. The pressure of succeeding future Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio at the position was problematic, however, and in 1977 the White Sox traded him to the Yankees for slugger Oscar Gamble, future Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt, a minor leaguer and $200,000. The Yankees gave him uniform number 20.

[edit] 1978

Though Dent was not known as a home run hitter - he hit a grand total of 40 in 12 years in the major leagues - his place in the annals of baseball has been secured by his three-run homer which gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the 1978 AL East division playoff game with their archrivals, the Red Sox. With a fierce wind blowing out to left field, Dent connected with a badly hanging breaking ball pitched by Mike Torrez (who had pitched for the Yankees only the previous season), and hit a fly ball to left that would just clear Fenway Park's Green Monster (310 feet from home plate), giving the Yankees a one-run lead. The Yankees went on to win the game 5-4 and the division title, and thus upholding the Sox' Curse of the Bambino. Because of this event, Red Sox fans hold a great deal of animosity towards Dent, and they gave Dent a profane nickname, Bucky Fucking Dent, usually printed for public consumption as "Bucky (Bleeping) Dent" or reduced to a middle initial as Bucky "F." Dent.

[edit] 1979-1984

A 3-time All-Star, Dent would remain the Yankees' shortstop until 1982, when he was traded to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Lee Mazzilli. On the Rangers, his uniform number was 7. Dent would return to the Yankees briefly in 1984 (but not playing a game) before finishing his career that season with the Kansas City Royals, wearing uniform number 21. He retired, having spent his full 12-year playing career in the American League, with a .247 batting average, 40 HRs and 423 RBI.

[edit] Post-career activities

After retiring as a player, Dent managed in the Yankees' minor league system, notably with the Columbus Clippers. He served the Yankees as manager of the big league club for portions of two seasons, compiling an 18-22 record in 1989 and an 18-31 record in 1990. In 1992 George Steinbrenner called upon Dent to help train Derek Jeter, the Yankees' first round pick that year.

Most recently, Dent threw out the first pitch to Yankees great Yogi Berra in the 7th and final game of the 2004 American League Championship Series.

In November 2005, Dent became the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds.

Bucky also runs a baseball school in Florida (Bucky Dent's Baseball School) that teaches young children baseball fundamentals.

[edit] Non-baseball work

In 1979 Dent took advantage of his name (and fame) by posing for a pin-up poster. He appeared, wearing a swimsuit, in the September 1983 issue of Playgirl magazine. Dent once acted in a commercial for Michelob Light-brand beer with another former baseball player, Marv Throneberry.

[edit] External links

Preceded by:
Reggie Jackson		 World Series MVP
1978		 Succeeded by:
Willie Stargell
Preceded by:
Reggie Jackson		 Babe Ruth Award
1978		 Succeeded by:
Willie Stargell
Preceded by:
Dallas Green		 New York Yankees Manager
1989-1990		 Succeeded by:
Stump Merrill
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