1980 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Hero of the Yankees' World Series win over the Dodgers in '78. Baseball's new sex symbol, Bucky's good looks make him a favorite with female fans. He figures his Series fame was worth an additional $200,000 in appearances and endorsements.
'It's been a dream.' Bucky is represented by former Miami Dolphin star Nick Buoniconti, now a lawyer.
Born in Savannah, Georgia, his given name is Russell Earl Dent. He's one of the top defensive shortstops in the game. The first time he ever saw a big league game, he played in it. Bucky rose to stardom with the White Sox, and was acquired by the Yankees in a trade in '77 as George Steinbrenner sought to field an All-Star at every position."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1980 Edition
"What a difference a year makes! Following the 1978 season, you couldn't go through a day without hearing the name Bucky Dent mentioned. He was the toast of the town. His monumental home run against the boys from Beantown thrust the Yankees into the playoffs. His four RBIs against the Royals helped the Bombers enter the World Series. His .417 average-seven RBI-MVP performance against Los Angeles led the Yankees to their 22nd World Championship. He was legend.
But 1979 rolled around and Bucky's performance rivaled the Yankees ... that is, they both had off years. The Yankees slipped to fourth place and Bucky's offense fell off noticeably. Despite troubles at the plate, he still played steady defense (ranking second in the league among shortstops) as the Yankees themselves led the league in that department. Proving just how valuable he really is, Bucky never let his sagging bat weigh down his defensive performance.
During the off-season, Bucky worked out three days a week and concentrated on an improved 1980 season. As a six-and-a-half-year veteran, this 28-year-old is not willing to relive his previous misfortunes. He's smelled the sweet rose of success and he's anxious for more. By enjoying a banner year in 1980, he can only help hoist the pennant for the Bombers."
-The New York Yankees Official 1980 Yearbook
"Following his super World Series performance in 1978, Dent dropped off a bit in 1979. He started off good offensively, batting as high as .281 on May 27 (he was at .300 on May 13), but then slumped, going 2-for-36 from May 29 to June 9, his average falling to .232. Bucky then went on a 9-for-21 streak over his next six games to get his average up to .254. He had a six-game hit streak (May 22-28) and had three-hit games against the Mariners on July 12 and the A's on July 19. Bucky had six game-winning RBIs, batted .270 with men in scoring position and .262 with men on base.
Bucky was solid defensively for the Yanks. His .977 fielding average was second among the league's regular shortstops (Rick Burleson was first at .980).
The 1978 season was an injury-plagued year for Bucky, but he capped it off with a super World Series performance that earned him MVP honors. He batted .417 in the Series (10-for-24) with seven RBIs, and turned in a great job defensively against the Dodgers. Bucky had started his '78 postseason heroics by hitting a three-run homer off Mike Torrez in the playoff game with the Red Sox, bringing the Yanks from behind as they clinched the Eastern Division. It was one of the most publicized home runs in recent years. Bucky suffered much of the year with a pulled right hamstring.
He teams with Willie Randolph to give the Yankees one of the best young double-play combinations in the game. Bucky had a string of four straight years over 150 games played snapped in '78. He had a .981 fielding percentage which was third among AL shortstops that year.
Dent first came up to the White Sox in 1973. In his rookie year in 1974, he was runner-up to Texas' Mike Hargrove in the American League's Rookie of the Year voting. He was named shortstop on the major league All-Rookie team that year and led the A.L. in sacrifice hits with 23. Defensively Bucky has been among the league leaders every year in total chances accepted. He tied for the league lead in double plays by shortstops in 1974 with 108, and he led the league in 1975 with 105 twin killings.
1975 has proven to be Bucky's best all-around year so far. In addition to the double plays, he was first in fielding (.981), putouts (279), assists (543) and total chances (838). He committed only 16 errors and was named to the American League's All-Star team.
An all-around athlete, Dent was an All-State halfback at Hialeah (Florida) High School. He attended Miami Dade North Junior College, where he was an All-American infielder. He played Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion ball in Hialeah. A roommate of Rich Gossage when they were together in the White Sox organization, the first time Bucky ever saw a major league game, he played in it.
Bucky starred in a movie with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders after the 1978 season."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
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