Meet Dennis Eckersley

DENNIS ECKERSLEY

"Eck"

Positions: Pitcher

Full Name: Dennis Lee Eckersley

Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Born: October 3, 1954, in Oakland, California

Organizations: Oakland Athletics (9), Boston Red Sox (8), Cleveland Indians (3), Chicago Cubs (3), St. Louis Cardinals (2)

DENNIS ECKERSLEY'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Player in 2004, by BBWAA with 83.2%
• All-Star: 6 (1977, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992)
• MVP: 1 (1992)
• ALCS MVP: 1 (1988)
• Cy Young: 1 (1992)
• Rolaids Relief: 2 (1988, 1992)
• World Series Rings: 2 (1989)

PITCHING

• Saves: 2 (1988, 1992)

FIELDING

• Fielding % as P: 1 (1978)

WHO?

"Eck" is an American former pitcher who played between 1975 and 1998. He was a successful starting pitcher but is famous for being a dominant closer, becoming the first of 2 pitchers in MLB history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in his career (the second one is John Smoltz)

Dennis Eckersley started his career as a starting pitcher in 1975, spending half of his 24-year career with Indians, Red Sox and Cubs, tossing a no-hitter in 1977 while in Cleveland, getting 11 wins or more 9 times (including 20 wins in 1978 playing in Boston). But after a disappointing season with the Cubs, "Eck" was traded to the Athletics prior to the 1987 season. He was projected by manager Tony La Russa to be a setup pitcher or long reliever, but after the injury of the closer Jay Howell, Eckersley moved to the 9th-inning job.

After saving 16 games in 1987, from 1988 to 1992 "Eck" became arguably one of the finest closers in MLB history, with an average of 44 saves a season, while helping his team to 4 AL pennants and winning the World Series in 1989. His 1992 season may have been his most dominant: 7-1 W-L record, 1.91 ERA, 51 SV (league leader), 93 K and 11 BB (6 IBB) in 80 innings. Eckersley won both the AL Cy Young and MVP awards in that season, becoming the 9th pitcher to do so, and just the 3rd reliever (Rollie Fingers in 1981 and Willie Hernandez in 1984). 

Eckersley continued being one of the best closers in the game, although his saves lowered and his ERA climbed. He followed La Russa to St. Louis as his closer for 2 more seasons, before returning to Boston as a setup for a final season. He retired with 197-171 win-loss record, 3.50 ERA, 2401 K and 390 SV (4th in the all-time list when he retired, now 7th), and 1st in games pitched (1071, now 5th). Dennis Eckersley was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2004.

MY COMMENT:

One of the most inspiring stories of redemption and reinvention.

Dennis Eckersley was a top starting pitcher during the first years of his career, getting achievements like a no-hitter, a 200-K season and a 20-wins season. But his numbers got mediocre and worse year after year, before his trade to Oakland. 

What was the problem with him? 

Alcohol.

After his last season with Cubs (6-11 record with 4,57 ERA), he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic. Then Eckersley adapted successfully to a new role: reliever. He was supposed to be a long reliever or a setup pitcher in the best-case scenario, but he got the chance to close games, and the rest is history: he became a feared and dominant closer, finishing his career with 390 saves.

A modern incarnation of a phoenix.

As an anecdote, my dad had a magazine about Red Sox (circa 1982). There was an article about Eck's pitching, including the grips. I decided that I would try his great slider. And after that, I tried to become a relief pitcher (my goal was to be a closer, like Eckersley). I ended up being a horrible pitcher because of my lack of skill, and because I had just one pitch that really worked: Eckersley's slider.

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
1975	20	CLE	AL	13	7	.650	2.60	34	24	6	2	2	186.2	147	61	54	16	90	152	1.270
1976	21	CLE	AL	13	12	.520	3.43	36	30	9	3	1	199.1	155	82	76	13	78	200	1.169
1977	22	CLE	AL	14	13	.519	3.53	33	33	12	3	0	247.1	214	100	97	31	54	191	1.084
1978	23	BOS	AL	20	8	.714	2.99	35	35	16	3	0	268.1	258	99	89	30	71	162	1.226
1979	24	BOS	AL	17	10	.630	2.99	33	33	17	2	0	246.2	234	89	82	29	59	150	1.188

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience
What do you think? Is this the best example of a career being rebuilt just because the player's will? If not, what is it? Share your thoughts!