Bucky (Bleeping) Dent will be at Fenway tonight for a one-game playoff between the Red Sox and Yankees.
What could go wrong?
The notorious figure who ended the Red Sox’ season in 1978 with an improbable home run over the Green Monster will attend tonight’s game, reports Jack Curry of YES. There’s no word on where he’s sitting, or whether he was officially invited.
Given Dent’s history with the Red Sox, it’s fair to surmise his invitation, if there was one, came with pinstripes.
Dent’s home run in 1978 harkens back to an entirely different era of Red Sox-Yankees, back when the Bronx Bombers continually beat the Sox when it mattered most. Dent only hit five home runs in ’78, and 40 over his entire 12-year career.
Twenty-five years later, history somewhat repeated itself when Aaron Boone took Tim Wakefield deep to win Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS at Yankee Stadium. Boone will be on the Yankees’ bench tonight.
Earlier this week, Dent spoke with the Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy about Tuesday’s winner-take-all affair.
“It’s the most pressure game I ever had to play in my life,” Dent said. “One game. Boston. Two great teams. The atmosphere was electric and the day was gorgeous. The game built. The pressure got more and more.”
First pitch is slated for 8:08 p.m.
