gold star for USAHOF

21. Dennis Eckersley

21. Dennis Eckersley
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: October 3, 1954 in Oakland, CA USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'2"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 12, 1975
  • Final Game: September 26, 1998
  • ALCS MVP - 1988
  • Rolaids Relief Man Award - 1988
  • TSN Fireman of the Year - 1988
  • TSN Fireman of the Year - 1991
  • Cy Young Award - 1992
  • Most Valuable Player - 1992
  • Rolaids Relief Man Award - 1992
  • TSN Fireman of the Year - 1992
  • TSN Pitcher of the Year - 1992
  • Cy Young - 1978
  • Cy Young - 1979
  • Cy Young - 1988
  • Cy Young - 1989
  • Cy Young - 1990
  • Cy Young - 1992
  • MVP - 1978
  • MVP - 1988
  • MVP - 1989
  • MVP - 1990
  • MVP - 1992
 
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When the Chicago Cubs traded Dennis Eckersley in 1987 to the Oakland A’s, this was considered a demotion, or even a last chance of sorts.  “Eck” had been a starter in the Majors since 1975, and he had made two All-Star Games, but his alcoholism was threatening to take him out.  Oakland’s Manager, Tony LaRussa, envisioned him as a set-up man, which Is the role he took until Jay Howell, their existing closer got hurt.  Eckersley took on that new position, and it would eventually put him into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Eckersley would take his spot as the elite Relief Pitcher in baseball in 1988.  Earning the first of what would be four All-Stars as a closer, Eckersley would lead the American League in Saves in 45, while posting a WHIP of .0867.  He would help Oakland win the American League pennant, and he finished second in Cy Young voting.

The A’s would win the 1989 World Series, with Eckersley being a considerable part of that success.  While his Saves total went down to 33, he actually had a better season with a 1.56 ERA and a WHIP of 0.607.  Oakland won the 1990 American League Pennant (though lost to Cincinnati), and Eckersley again had sick numbers with an ERA of only 0.61 and a comparable WHIP of 0.614.  Perhaps because of the Save lead bias, he had fewer votes than he did for the Cy Young than he had in 1988.

After another good season in 1991, Eckersley reclaimed the Saves title with 51 (1.91 ERA & 0.913 WHIP), and that was the season he won the Cy Young and also the MVP.  He would play three more seasons, but age caught up to him, and he was not the same hurler.  He would sign with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996, and played three more years, his last being with the Boston Red Sox.

With the Athletics, Dennis Eckersley had 330 Saves, won 41 Games with a WHIP of 0.953.

Eckersley would get into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004 and was named to the Athletics Hall of Fame in the first group in 2018.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Traded from the Chicago Cubs with Dan Rohn for Brian Guinn, Mark Leonette, and Dave Wilder 4/3/87.
  • Departed: Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery 2/13/96.
  • Games Played: 525
  • Notable Statistics: 41 Wins
    31 Losses
    2.74 ERA
    2 Games Started
    456 Games Finished
    320 Saves
    637.0 Innings Pitched
    658 Strikeouts
    2.44 FIP
    0.953 WHIP 
    7.15 SO/BB
    16.0 bWAR

    20 Playoff Games
    0 Wins
    2 Losses
    2.38 ERA
    19 Games Finished
    11 Saves
    22.2 Innings Pitched
    15 Strikeouts
    1.01 WHIP
    5.00 SO/BB
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1989)
    MVP (1992)
    Cy Young Award (1992)
    The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year (1992)
    All-Star (1988, 1990, 1991 & 1992)
    Rolaids Relief Award (1988 & 1992)
    Most Saves (1988 & 1992)
    Most Games Finished (1992)

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