One is an actual legend and the other is legendary because of his anti-hero status in the hearts of Red Sox fans. The first is Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio. A 9-time world champion, a 13-time All-Star and 3-time MVP, the Yankee Clipper will be remembered mostly for his ridiculous 56-game hitting streak in 1941. That unbreakable streak is one of the greatest feats in baseball history, and was the greatest individual accomplishment in DiMaggio’s distinguished career. But as we all know, his greatest achievement was leading the New York Yankees to nine World Series titles.
The other great Yankee who celebrates a birthday today is former shortstop Bucky Dent. Dent was not a very accomplished player, just a light-hitting shortstop on two World Series-winning Yankee squads. But Dent will forever be remembered for his heroics in the one-game playoff between the Yankees and Red Sox in 1978. In a single game that would determine the champion of the American League East, the Boston Red Sox led the New York Yankees by a score of 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning. Then Bucky Dent stepped up to the plate, the same #9-hitting Bucky Dent who hit a meager five home runs in 1978 and just 40 over a 12-year MLB career. But on October 2, 1978, Bucky Dent became Babe Ruth by hitting a three-run home run over the Green Monster, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead that they would not relinquish. The Yanks would eventually go on to win their 22nd World Series title in 1978. Dent would cement his place in history, as a Yankee hero and a Boston pariah. To this day, he is still known as “Bucky F’ing Dent” all around New England. That’s enough to earn him a special place in the hearts of Yankee fans.
Also Happy Birthday to Joe Gans, Joe Gibbs, Ben Stein, John Larroquette, Amy Grant, John F. Kennedy Jr., Bernie Kosar, Cris Carter, Jill Hennessy, Anthony Peeler, Christina Applegate, Erick Strickland, Donovan F. McNabb, Jenna Bush, Barbara Bush, Jared Jeffries and hot dog champ Joey Chestnut
Filed under: MLB - Yankees, Writer - Bill Slattery
