I was pulling for the White Sox all the way (1). After being here and playing for them for several years (2), all the history of them losing, I thought it was really neat to see them finally win one.
I interviewed in ’97 when they hired Jerry Manuel. I thought I came close at that job. It just didn’t work out.
The first time in Chicago, I interviewed when they hired Torborg (3). I don’t think I was a serious interview back then. It was my first time going through that.
I actually was raised by my aunt and uncle. I grew up in Florida–me and my older brother. My mother was young when she had us, and my grandmother took me and my brother to Florida.
My given name is Russell Earl O’Dey. But I changed it when I went to live with my aunt and uncle. They changed it to Russell Earl Dent. They felt it would be easier going through school than explaining all that stuff.
I didn’t meet my dad until I was 25. I played in the World Series in ’77 and met him in the winter.
My father’s last name is Stanford. That’s what threw me off in the process all those years. I had the wrong name.
I started the process when I was in Chicago. I talked to a gentleman about what I was going through and he gave me a background of how to do it and what to say. There was a whole process to go through because he said, “He might not know he has a son.” When I actually found my dad, I asked him some questions and he answered them all. He knew who I was.
The conversation went like this: “Mr. Stanford, I don’t know if you know who I am; I’m Russell Dent.” He said, “Yeah, your name is Bucky.”
It kind of relieved me. I wanted to fill in the puzzle all those years, whether it was good or bad.
My grandmother gave it to me (4). It’s a Southern expression–“cooterbuck.” I don’t know what it means. After a while, I got embarrassed by it and it just became Bucky.
A whole group of us came up together–myself, Lamar Johnson, Jerry Hairston, Brian Downing, Bart Johnson, Jorge Orta, Terry Forster, Goose Gossage. It was a good nucleus of young guys. We were just a little bit short in some areas. But I loved playing in Chicago. I loved playing in the city. I think it helped me going from Chicago to New York, from a big city to a big city.
It was Oscar Gamble, LaMarr Hoyt, Bob Polinsky and some cash for me. I actually met Mr. Steinbrenner in 1973 or ’74. It was at a Bulls game. He was sitting in front of me, and the gentleman who was with me said, “Do you know who that is?” I said no. He said, “That’s George Steinbrenner; would you like to meet him?” I go, “Yeah.” So, I tapped him on the shoulder and introduced myself. He says, “Boy, I’ve been trying to get you.” I said, “I’d love to play for the Yankees someday.” Three years later or so, here we go.
I’d broken a bat in batting practice (5) and I was using Mickey’s model that day (6). It got a hairline crack under the tape. I came up in the seventh, two guys on, fouled a ball off my foot. That year, I had a blood clot in my leg, and that day I didn’t wear my guard. So, when I fouled the ball off, I went back to the on-deck circle because I was worried about it swelling up. As that process was going on, Mickey came up to me and he said, “Hey homey, you’re using the wrong bat; that bat’s cracked.” I started walking back to the plate, and the batboy came up and gave me another bat. I got in the box, and the first pitch that Torrez (7) threw to me, I hit for a home run.
The one thing I remember rounding third was how quiet Fenway Park was.
In New York, all the fans come up to me and say, “I still remember where I was when you hit the home run.” The Boston people say, “You ruined my life.”
It got even better. I went on and became Most Valuable Player in the World Series in 1978, which a lot of people forget about because of the home run.
I’m hoping someday that I get a chance to manage again.
(1): In the 2005 World Series.
(2): From 1973 through 1976.
(3): Former Sox manager Jeff Torborg.
(4): His nickname Bucky.
(5): The day of the one-game playoff between the Yankees and Red Sox in Boston to decide the AL East in 1978.
(6): Yankees center fielder Mickey Rivers.
(7): Boston pitcher Mike Torrez.
