Former New York Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent hit one of the most memorable home runs in Yankees’ history against the Boston Red Sox in the stretch run of the 1978 season.
Dent still has vivid memories of hitting his game-winning three-run home run against right-handed pitcher Mike Torrez that helped erase a 2-0 deficit against the Red Sox on October 2, 1978. This was a rare game-163 to decide the American League East and the Yankees came back from a 14-game deficit to put themselves in a position to make the postseason.
Dent was among many former Yankees players taking photos and signing autographs at the Pinstripe Pride event. This event, which was held for three days last weekend at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was put together at Hall of Fame signings. Dent spoke with World Baseball Network about his epic home run and his favorite Yankee players to watch today.
Interview with Bucky Dent @NYAWild takes me through the epic home run against the Red Sox to push the Yankees into the Playoffs in ‘78.
Dent also said his favorite current Yankees to watch are Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe. pic.twitter.com/FeKcH6NoWJ
— Julian Guilarte (@JulianGuilarte1) February 7, 2025
Dent talked about how he was injured but had to play because Yankees’ infielder Willie Randolph was out with a pulled hamstring and the team only had 24 guys. Dent had a blood clot in his lower left leg near his foot that occurred in the spring training of 1978. He fouled a ball off his foot in the second pitch of that at-bat and wasn’t wearing the shin guard he normally does to protect himself.
“When I fouled the ball off I was really in a lot of pain… and we had just pinch hit for another infielder Brian Doyle so I knew I had to play,” Dent told World Baseball Network. “So I went back to the on-deck circle and sprayed some stuff on my ankle. That’s when Mickey Rivers told me I had the wrong bat because it had a crack in it, so he gave me a new bat.”
“I went back in the box and the first pitch Torrez gave me a fastball down and in. I thought I hit it pretty good, but I didn’t know if it was gone, till I rounded first and saw Carl Yamstremski buckle at the wall.”
Dent was a right-handed hitter and he pulled the ball over Fenway Park’s iconic green monster in left field. This monumental shot gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead that they wouldn’t look back in a 5-4 win.
“It was always a childhood dream to hit a big home run and I got the chance to do it.”
Dent carried that momentum into the 1978 postseason and helped the Yankees win their second consecutive World Series championship against the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. Dent was named MVP of the World Series with 10 hits in 24 at-bats (.417 batting average), and seven RBI.
“That was it you know 78… to come from behind 14 games and to play with that group of guys that was really special. We had a lot of grit and the will to compete.”
Moreover, Dent played six seasons with the Yankeees from 1976-1981 and won back-to-back World Series with them in 1977 and 1978. He also played in two All-Star games with the Yankees and three in his career. He made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 1972 and was traded to the Yankees at the beginning of the 1977 season.
Dent also played with the Texas Rangers and retired with the Kansas City Royals after the 1984 season.
His numbers in 12 MLB seasons were 40 home runs, 423 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and a slash line of .247/.291/.618 in 4,512 at-bats.
Fast forwarding to today, Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe are Dent’s favorite players to watch.
“I like Judge because of the way he goes about his business, his approach, and the way he plays the game.”
“I like to watch Volpe because he plays great defense at shortstop and he’s a good young player.”
