Dennis Eckersley

From SoSH

Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3, 1954), nicknamed "Eck," enjoyed some success as a starter, but overwhelming success as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career. He is also noted as the pitcher who gave up Kirk Gibson's game-winning home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. On January 6, 2004, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, with 83.2% of the votes.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Awards 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

Eckersley broke into the majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1975 as a somewhat brash young pitcher with longish hair and 90+ mile-per-hour fastball. It was a promising, if not wholly satisfying campaign. Maintaining a 2.60 ERA with a 13-7 won-loss record, Eck was named AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Over the next two seasons the offbeat wise guy averaged 14 wins and 196 strikeouts. In 1978 Eckersley was traded to Boston in a deal that brought Bo Diaz and Rick Wise to Cleveland. In his first year with the Red Sox, he enjoyed his best season as a starter with a 20-8 record and a 2.99 ERA. Eckersley was particularly stunning down the stretch, winning his last four starts with complete games, including a crucial three-hitter vs. New York in late September, as the Red Sox attempted to stave off the Yankees’ challenge for the AL East crown. After four mediocre seasons in Boston, Eckersley was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Buckner early in the 1984 season. The following seasons saw Eckersley's fastball lose velocity and his personal life take a nosedive as he struggled with alcohol abuse. Ironically, the Red Sox reached the World Series in 1986.

In 1987 Eckersley was traded to Oakland, where A’s manager Tony LaRussa planned to use him as a set-up man/long reliever. Yet after an injury to Jay Howell, Eckersley got the closer’s job. His performance surprised everyone. After the All-Star break, Eckersley recorded 13 saves and struck out 51 batters -- with just five walks -- in just 43.2 innings pitched. Abandoning his wild, fireballing style, and pinpoint control became the signature of the new Eck. The following year was a renaissance for the entire A's ballclub. Sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire fueled a devastating offense, but it was Eckersley's cool and efficient confidence which defined the team. His shaggy long hair and trimmed mustache, combined with his 45 saves (one short of the ML record) and 70 strikeouts evoked memories of the flamboyant arrogance of Oakland's three-time world champions of the early seventies. Unfortunately, the team that lived by Eck, died by Eck. After Eckersley gave up a ninth-inning, pinch-hit two-run homer to Kirk Gibson to end Game One of the 1988 World Series, the A's collapsed to the seemingly out-manned Dodgers, losing the series in five games.

Nevertheless, Eckersley dominated the American League for the next five years, and won his first World Series, recording the final out of the A's four-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants. 1992 was Eckersley’s best season by far, starting off the season with a major-league record 36 consecutive saves. By the end of the year, he had tallied 51. Eck would go on to win not only the Cy Young that season but also the American League MVP award.

Eckersley never regained the magic he captured in ’92. In each of his next three seasons he failed to bring his ERA below four and after a disappointing 1995 season was traded to the Cardinals for Steve Montgomery. In St. Louis, he was reunited with ex-Oakland manager LaRussa. Despite nagging injuries and a 42-year-old body, Eckersley returned to his old form, saving 30 games and walking only six batters in 60 innings pitched. During the Cardinals’ post-season run, Eckersley recorded four saves without allowing a run and did not appear in a Cardinals loss.

After another 30+ save year for St. Louis in 1997, Eck signed with the Boston Red Sox. He failed to beat out Tom Gordon for the closer’s job in spring training and spent a large part of the first half on the DL. After recording just one save in nearly forty innings of work Eckersley finally called it quits.

Awards

• 2-Time American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1988 & 1992)
• 1988 ALCS MVP
• 1992 American League Cy Young
• 1992 American League MVP
• 1992 American League TSN Pitcher of the Year
• 6-Time American League All-Star (1977, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992)

Moment in the Sun

• May 30, 1977: Pitched a no-hitter for the Cleveland Indians against the Anaheim Angels.
• August 13, 2005: Eckersley had his uniform number 43 officially retired by the Oakland Athletics.
• American League's Cy Young Award winner and MVP in 1992. No pitcher since has won the two honors in the same season.

Trivia

• The only player in major league history to record 100 complete games and 200 saves.
• Eck currently works as a studio analyst for the Boston Red Sox on NESN.
• Coined the phrase "Gas Masterson", which...unfortunately...has not caught on yet.
• His mustache is epic.

Transactions

• June 6, 1972: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 3rd round of the 1972 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1972.
• March 30, 1978: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Fred Kendall to the Boston Red Sox for Rick Wise, Mike Paxton, Ted Cox, and Bo Diaz.
• May 25, 1984: Traded by the Boston Red Sox with Mike Brumley to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Buckner.
• November 8, 1984: Granted Free Agency.
• November 28, 1984: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs.
• April 3, 1987: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Dan Rohn to the Oakland Athletics for Brian Guinn (minors), Dave Wilder (minors), and Mark Leonette (minors).
• October 25, 1994: Granted Free Agency.
• April 3, 1995: Signed as a Free Agent with the Oakland Athletics.
• February 13, 1996: Traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery.
• October 29, 1997: Granted Free Agency.
• December 9, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• November 3, 1998: Granted Free Agency.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis