After I’ve been nagging you for a week, today it’s finally here: the annual reconstitution of the Russell indices, when hundreds of NYSE- and NYSE Amex-listed issues go in and out of the indices. If you’ve been in a cave the last few days, here is our post with links to the relevant procedures and policies. We’re not anticipating a problem, but better to be over-prepared, yes?

That also means today is the final installment in our little Great Russells in World History series. I’ve saved my personal favorite for last. Today’s Great Russell is…..

Bucky Dent.

Bucky Dent? Yes, Bucky Dent, born Russell Earl O’Dey. Yankee shortstop of the 1970s who in 1978 hit the decisive home run to lead the Yanks to a comeback win over the Red Sox in a one-game playoff for the pennant. The game capped a miraculous comeback pennant drive and opened the path to another World Series championship for the Yanks. In short, the kind of performance Yankee fans haven’t seen in October since, um, far longer than I care to remember. Here’s a recent piece in the New York Times with Bucky reflecting back on that time.

How did I remember that his given name was Russell? Your humble blogger has an amazing capacity for retaining absolutely useless, trivial nonsense, as Mrs. Humble Blogger reminds him with some regularity.

Forgive my bringing all that up, Sox fans. It’s been kinda tough for us Yankee faithful recently. Anyway, hope you’ve enjoyed our little runup to Russell. Have a good Friday and weekend.