Bucky Dent
| Birthdate | 12/25/1951 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1973 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Rangers, Royals, White Sox, Yankees |
| Positions | Manager, Shortstop |
Known for his dramatic 1978 homer in Boston, Bucky Dent was a three-time All Star and World Series MVP with more than 1,000 career hits.
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Before finding fame with the Yankees, Bucky Dent played his first four years with the White Sox
Before finding fame with the Yankees, Bucky Dent played his first four years with the White Sox
Bucky Dent is best remembered for his heroics in the 1978 postseason with the Yankees. It’s easy to forget that he made the first of his three All Star appearances with the White Sox.
The shortstop played in Chicago from 1973-1976. After just 40 games in ’73, he became the White Sox regular shortstop the following season. In 154 games that season he hit .276 and finished second in Rookie of the Year balloting. Then in ’75, he made his first all star team and hit .264 on the season.
The nation’s bicentennial year of 1976 saw a great regression for Dent. His batting average slipped to .246. In early April of ’77 his career in Chicago ended when he was dealt to the Yankees.
This is the Uniform Agreement that called up Dent for his Major League debut with the Chicago White Sox on June 1, 1973. The Sox paid the Iowa minor league affiliate $20 for Dent’s services.
The document is signed by Roland Hemond in his role as White Sox GM and offers a significant link to the start of Dent’s big league career.
Dent is famous for his unlikely 3-run homer in the one-game playoff against the Red Sox in '78
Dent is famous for his unlikely 3-run homer in the one-game playoff against the Red Sox in '78
While playing for the Yankees in the 1978 one-game playoff in Boston, Bucky Dent hit a three-run homer. This hit propelled New York to the ALCS and eventually, a World Series championship.
Dent was not just the last man in the order for the Yankees. He was also quite possibly the last player the Red Sox thought would hit a long ball. In over 5,000 career regular-season Major League plate appearances Dent hit only 40 home runs. Dent hit the bomb and the Yankees ousted heated rival Boston out of the postseason.
Since the homer, Red Sox fans have referred to him as, “Bucky Fucking Dent”. His post season heroics did not end there. In the 1978 World Series against the Dodgers, Dent hit .417 going 10-for-24 with seven runs batted. The effort earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
The Yankee payroll check shown here is dated November 15, 1978 representing payment for his post-season work.
Bucky Dent was a three-time all star with more than 1,000 big league hits
Bucky Dent was a three-time all star with more than 1,000 big league hits
One can picture a smiling Bucky Dent reflecting on the just-completed post season as he endorsed the back of the check. His legal name, “Russel E. Dent” is a fine example of Dent’s autograph at the pinnacle of his career.
In addition to the White Sox and the Yankees, Dent played for the Rangers and the Royals. The light-hitting shortstop had five season of 100 or more hits, and three years with 50 or more runs batted in. Dent finished his 12-year MLB playing career with three All Star appearances and over 1,000 hits.
