CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Former Major League Baseball player and manager Bucky Dent will be the keynote speaker at the 2018 Hot Stove Banquet, the Illinois Dugout Club announced. The Hot Stove Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, January 20 at the iHotel in Champaign.

Dent was the starting shortstop for the back-to-back World Series champion New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978, including winning World Series MVP honors in 1978. Dent is famous for his game-winning three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in the American League East tie-breaker in 1978.

Information on tickets will be available at a later date.

photo by Associated Press