Some of the players who were on the field at the time look back on the day and the moment an ontherwise forgettable shortstop became a permanent Dent in Boston's heart
AB Bucky Dent
Age: 51
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Residence: Boynton Beach, Fla.
What's he doing now: Manager of Columbus Clippers, Yankees' Triple A club in the International League.
Last time he played pro ball: Played 11 games with the Kansas City Royals in 1984, wrapping up a 12-year career; last played with Yankees in '82.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "I didn't think it was going out. I thought it would hit the top of the Wall."
What he remembers most about game other than his HR: "Just the intensity, a couple of plays Piniella made in the outfield, and the last out of the game, the matchup between Yaz and Gossage."
Lasting effect: "It's hard to say. Just the overall greatness of the game. It changed my life. It was such a big game and people still remember where they were and what they were doing."
P Mike Torrez
Age: 57
Residence: Naperville, Ill.
What's he doing now: Owns a promotional and premium (corporate logo) business in N.Y.
Last time he played pro ball: Appeared in nine games with the New York Mets and two with Oakland in 1984 at the end of an 18-year career that included five seasons in Boston and one as a Yankee.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "I thought it was a popup. It didn't sound like a HR. That's why I say the bat was corked."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "I pitched a great game whether you want to give me credit or not. It was a great game to pitch, to hold that club to zero runs with two outs in the seventh inning."
Lasting effect: "We've been signing autographs together, and it's kept my name in the paper. Other than the shot heard 'round the world, it's probably the most famous HR ever."
C Carlton Fisk
Age: 55
Residence: New Lenox, Ill.
What's he doing now: Does charity work for golf tournaments and does baseball clinics.
Last time he played pro ball: Finished his 24-year career (11 in Boston) with the Chicago White Sox in 1993; inducted into Hall of Fame in 2000.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "I thought it was going to be off the Wall, but not a home run. Mike just missed with the location of the pitch; I wanted it in and off the plate and it came down the middle."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "It definitely was that home run. You expected Guidry and Jackson to have big moments and we expected to come back, which we did. But nobody expected Dent to hit a home run in that situation, maybe a single or a double off the Wall, but not a home run. That was out of the norm."
Lasting effect: "It was a great game between two great teams. We won 99 games and there wasn't a wild-card berth. Piniella made those two plays in right field also. It was a disappointment, but we won our last eight games to get back to a tie. We never gave up."
CF Fred Lynn
Age: 51
Residence: Carlsbad, Calif.
What's he doing now: Has hosted Legends Skybox for the Red Sox. Has done some corporate events for Major League Baseball.
Last time he played pro ball: Finished his 17-year career (first seven in Boston) with the San Diego Padres in 1990.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "It was just a fl y ball. I knew it was going to catch the Wall, but it barely scraped over."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "Lou Piniella made two amazing plays in the outfield. I hooked the ball – I hardly ever pull it off Guidry. He made a great play that cost us two runs. Piniella, in my mind, won that game."
Lasting effect: "We had a great season, won 99 games. And we lost because of an outfielder not even known for his defense. Dent was just a sidebar. It is a tough time of year out there in the outfield, with the sun, and he just made two great plays."
RF Jim Rice
Age: 50
Residence: North Andover
What's he doing now: Part-time studio analyst for NESN.
Last time he played pro ball: Played all of his 16 years with the Red Sox, finishing in 1989. Thoughts when the ball left the bat: Refused comment
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: Refused comment
Lasting effect: Refused comment
2B Jerry Remy
Age: 50
Residence: Weston
What's he doing now: Television analyst for Red Sox broadcasts and occasional national games.
Last time he played pro ball: Finished his 10-year career (last seven in Boston) in 1984. Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "Obviously, I was surprised. I thought that ball wasn't going to go out and then I was disappointed that we were behind. But we still had nine outs to go."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "First, in the ninth, there was the ball that Piniella lost in the sun that could have been a triple. Then later, Yaz pops up and the season is over. You look around and the stands are quiet, like the air was let out of a balloon."
Lasting effect: "That was the one game that could have brought me to the World Series and it really hit me at the end of my career that it had really been my only chance."
LF Carl Yastrzemski
Age: 64
Residence: Delray Beach, Fla.
What's he doing now: Part-time minor league hitting instructor for Red Sox.
Last time he played pro ball: Played his entire 23-year Hall of Fame career (inducted 1989) with the Red Sox, finishing in 1983.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "I didn't think it was going into the net. I thought it would hit the Wall. It kept carrying. When it went into the net, I had a sinking feeling."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "They were lucky. The Curse. Piniella made that play when he lost that ball in the sun. Everything went in their favor. I remember my home run off Guidry and that the wind was blowing in."
Lasting effect: "Making the final out. But I got the pitch I was looking for. I wanted a fastball low and in. I didn't get the head of the bat out fast enough. Everything went against us the whole time."
SS Rick Burleson
Age: 52
Residence: La Habra, Calif.
What's he doing now: Manager of Louisville, the CincinnatiReds' Triple A team in the International League; will coach in the Arizona fall league.
Last time he played pro ball: After playing seven seasons in Boston, went on to the California Angels for five seasons before wrapping up 13-year career with Orioles in 1987.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "Like everyone else, I was hoping it wasn't hit hard enough to get out. All of a sudden our 2-0 lead became 3-2 [Yankees]. But even though the stadium went into a hush, nobody thought the game was over. It was only the seventh."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "By the ninth inning, we had made a comeback and cut the lead to 5-4. I was the second batter in the inning and drew a walk from Goose Gossage. Then came the infamous Lou Piniella play. Being the runner at first, I had two options – run as hard as I could with my head down and risk making the final out on a caught fl y ball double play, or I could kind of wait it out between first and second. With Yaz coming up – the guy that anyone would have wanted at bat in that situation – I waited and advanced to second. Some people thought I should have gone to third, but I've never questioned myself."
Lasting effect: "Since it was only my second year in the big leagues, I figured this was something that would happen to me quite a bit. But in reality, you don't get many chances to make the World Series or the playoffs. We let it slip away."
1B George Scott
Age: 59
Residence: Greenville, Miss.
What's he doing now: Managed Pittsfield this season in the Northern League. Taking this year off to spend time with his kids.
Last time he played pro ball: In the last season of 14-year career (nine in Boston), went from Boston to Kansas City and then finished with 16 games for the '79 Yankees.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: "From where I was, it didn't look like it was going to make it. If you look at the replay, it made it over by about a half an inch, about the size of a baseball."
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: "We had played a heck of a ballgame, and I still thought we were going to win. We had Yaz and Rice coming to the plate with the tying run at second. I don't think anyone on the team thought we were going to lose. I felt that we were just as good as the Yankees. Goose Gossage just got two or three tough outs to win the ballgame. I really thought Yaz would get him."
Lasting effect: "I don't really have a feeling one way or the other. I wasn't someone who carried stuff around with me. I came to the ballpark, played hard, and when the game was over, I didn't say 'would have' or 'could have.' It just wasn't in the cards for us."
3B Jack Brohamer
Age: 53
Residence: Palm Desert, Calif.
What's he doing now: Unknown
Last time he played pro ball: Nine-year career ended as it started, with Cleveland in 1980; career included two-plus seasons in Boston.
Thoughts when the ball left the bat: Unavailable for comment
What he remembers most about game other than Dent's HR: Unavailable for comment
Lasting effect: Unavailable for comment
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