Bucky Dent
Born: 11/25/1951 in Savannah, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1973-06-01 | Final Game: 1984-09-11
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Russell Earl Dent
Biography
Bucky Dent, born in 1951, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1973 until his retirement in 1984. Over the course of his career, Dent participated in 1,392 games, accumulating 1,114 hits and demonstrating his ability as a reliable performer at the plate with a batting average of .247. Known for his defensive skills and versatility, he contributed significantly to his teams, driving in 423 runs and hitting 40 home runs while also showcasing his speed with 17 stolen bases.
Dent's career was marked by significant achievements, including three All-Star selections and a memorable performance that earned him the World Series MVP award. He played during an era characterized by competitive baseball and shifting dynamics within the sport. His contributions were particularly vital to the New York Yankees, where he became a fan favorite and a key figure in their successes during the late 1970s. Bucky Dent's legacy endures as a player who excelled in high-pressure situations, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1392 | 4512 | 451 | 1114 | 169 | 23 | 40 | 423 | 17 | 328 | 349 | 0.247 | 0.297 | 0.321 | 0.618 | -11129.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | CHW | AL | 40 | 117 | 17 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 0.248 | -346.4 |
| 1974 | CHW | AL | 154 | 496 | 55 | 136 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 45 | 3 | 28 | 48 | 0.274 | -470.1 |
| 1975 | CHW | AL | 157 | 602 | 52 | 159 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 58 | 2 | 36 | 48 | 0.264 | -1204.1 |
| 1976 | CHW | AL | 158 | 562 | 44 | 138 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 3 | 43 | 45 | 0.246 | -1225.6 |
| 1977 | NYY | AL | 158 | 477 | 54 | 118 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 49 | 1 | 39 | 28 | 0.247 | -1145.3 |
| 1978 | NYY | AL | 123 | 379 | 40 | 92 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 3 | 23 | 24 | 0.243 | -1063.4 |
| 1979 | NYY | AL | 141 | 431 | 47 | 99 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 37 | 30 | 0.230 | -1871.1 |
| 1980 | NYY | AL | 141 | 489 | 57 | 128 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 52 | 0 | 48 | 37 | 0.262 | -400.4 |
| 1981 | NYY | AL | 73 | 227 | 20 | 54 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 27 | 0 | 19 | 17 | 0.238 | -79.6 |
| 1982 | NYY | AL | 59 | 160 | 11 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0.169 | -1246.7 |
| 1982 | TEX | AL | 46 | 146 | 16 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0.219 | -1246.7 |
| 1983 | TEX | AL | 131 | 417 | 36 | 99 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 3 | 23 | 31 | 0.237 | -1603.6 |
| 1984 | KCR | AL | 11 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 83 | 4 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 0.277 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | ALCS | NYA | 3 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.182 |
| 1978 | WS | NYA | 6 | 24 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0.417 |
| 1978 | ALCS | NYA | 4 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 |
| 1977 | WS | NYA | 6 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.263 |
| 1977 | ALCS | NYA | 5 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.214 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 3B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 1382 | 1343 | 2116 | 4332 | 156 | 839 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | CHA | 2B | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | CHA | SS | 36 | 35 | 51 | 132 | 7 | 22 |
| 1974 | CHA | SS | 154 | 153 | 251 | 499 | 22 | 108 |
| 1975 | CHA | SS | 157 | 157 | 279 | 543 | 16 | 105 |
| 1976 | CHA | SS | 158 | 154 | 279 | 468 | 18 | 96 |
| 1977 | NYA | SS | 158 | 153 | 250 | 434 | 18 | 90 |
| 1978 | NYA | SS | 123 | 120 | 178 | 341 | 10 | 57 |
| 1979 | NYA | SS | 141 | 136 | 219 | 512 | 17 | 107 |
| 1980 | NYA | SS | 141 | 141 | 224 | 489 | 13 | 77 |
| 1981 | NYA | SS | 73 | 73 | 104 | 217 | 10 | 49 |
| 1982 | NYA | SS | 58 | 50 | 74 | 177 | 10 | 27 |
| 1982 | TEX | SS | 45 | 44 | 55 | 146 | 4 | 30 |
| 1983 | TEX | SS | 129 | 125 | 150 | 369 | 11 | 71 |
| 1984 | KCA | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | KCA | SS | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 3 |
| Third Base | 3 |
| Shortstop | 1382 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Babe Ruth Award | SS |
| 1978 | World Series MVP | |
| 1975 | Player of the Week | Week of 1975-05-16 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade College - North Campus | Miami | FL | 1970 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 3.0 | 24 | 3 |