Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley, nicknamed "Eck", is an American former Major League Baseballpitcher. Between 1975 and 1998, he pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of two pitchers in MLB history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth3 October 1954
CityPittsburgh, PA
CountryUnited States of America
I started to realize that maybe I had to give up the thought that I was a starter. But I was willing, and then I started having a little success.
We played one game at home, and Frank Robinson was the big story because he was the first black manager and he hit a home run in that game.
But more important than personal awards is winning the World Series. That's the max that anyone could ask for. Let alone to have the ball in your in your glove for the final out of the World Series. That was the ultimate.
It took me a few years to realize that throwing harder wasn't always better.
I'm proud of the fact that I pitched almost 3,300 innings.
I was in good control of my body, and I kept my head still.
I was a starter and did some good things there, and then I got a chance to prove myself as a closer. Because of that opportunity, I was blessed with the honor of being elected to the Hall of Fame.
I had never been to the playoffs, and it was exciting. The fans went through the roof. They were excited about the whole team. It was great to be traded to a city like Chicago, which was a lot like Boston.
I think today the players are too nice to one another, but that might change with the unbalanced schedule, with teams playing each other more and more. When you face each other that much, with that much at stake, something's bound to happen.
I always had the attitude that I wanted to throw a no-hitter every game.
But through experience I learned to control my body and locate the ball.
I also think that I had great mechanics.
My career spanned the era when relievers started to become more important
That first year in Chicago was one of the most memorable in my career. Getting traded rejuvenated me, and I had something to prove. I wanted to show them what I could do