Bucky Dent

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Bucky Dent (born 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 voted 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. The Red Sox had led the American League East Division by as much 14½ games (July 19) that season.

Playing career

Early career

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Dent grew up in Sylvania, Georgia, and 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 Luis Aparicio at the position was problematic, however, and in 1977 the White Sox traded him to the Yankees for Oscar Gamble, LaMarr Hoyt, a minor leaguer and $200,000. The Yankees gave him uniform number 20.

1978

Dent is widely remembered for hitting a three-run homer that gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the 1978 AL East division playoff game against the Boston Red Sox. It was notable because he was not known as a power hitter, having hit just 40 home runs in 12 years in the major leagues, and occupying the ninth spot in the batting order. The Yankees went on to win the game 5-4, securing the division title in the process.

After the devastating loss, Red Sox fans began referring to him as "Bucky Fucking Dent", and they continue to call him that today. When he attended a recent game at Fenway Park he was introduced to the crowd as Bucky "Bleeping" Dent. He acknowledged this introduction with a smile and a wave to the crowd.^{[citation needed]}

Dent batted .417 in the 1978 World Series, earning Series Most Valuable Player honors as the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, four games to two.

1979-1984

A three-time All-Star, Dent remained 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 returned to the Yankees briefly in 1984 (but never played 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 and 423 RBI.

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 2002, Dent served as the manager for the Omaha Royals, the Triple A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

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

In November 2005, Dent became the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds. The Cincinnati Reds released Dent on July 3, 2007; just a few days after releasing manager Jerry Narron. At the time, the Reds had the worst record in Major League Baseball.

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

He now lives in South Florida with his wife and 4 children, Scott Russell, Stacy Lynn and twins Cody Joseph and Caitlin Ann.

Non-baseball work

In 1979, Dent posed for a pin-up poster. That year he also appeared in the TV movie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, portraying a Cowboys wide receiver who was the love interest of Jane Seymour's character. He appeared, wearing a swimsuit, in the September 1983 issue of Playgirl magazine.

See also

• Chicago White Sox all-time roster

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• His page on reds.com
• Baseball Library - biography
• Bucky Dent's Baseball School
• Bucky Dent's Home Run - an essay on the Baseball Library site
• Baseball Almanac
• The Sporting News' Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Over The Green Monster
• Habib, Hal (October 1, 2008). "One swing made Bucky Dent a New York legend and a Boston pariah". The Palm Beach Post. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2008/10/01/a1c_dent_1002.html.