OAKLAND, Calif. -- Dennis Eckersley rarely reflects on a
24-year career that took off when he joined the Oakland Athletics
and peaked with him becoming the majors' top closer.
Leading up to Tuesday's announcement that he was elected to the
Hall of Fame, Eckersley was a wreck.
All the anxiety he often experienced in his playing days
returned. He couldn't sleep. He obsessed. He reminisced.
"It's the most overwhelming experience I've ever felt in my
life," Eckersley said. "I don't think I ever even dreamt of it. I
just dreamt of being in the big leagues."
Eckersley, a six-time All-Star, became only the third pitcher
who was primarily a reliever elected by the Baseball Writers'
Association of America. He did it in his first year of eligibility,
being picked on 421 of 506 ballots (83.2 percent).
Paul Molitor also made the Hall on his first try Tuesday.
Had it not been for his switch from starter to reliever after a
bout with alcoholism, Eckersley knows he wouldn't be part of his
sport's most elite fraternity.
With his shaggy black hair and distinct mustache, he led the A's
to three straight AL championships from 1988-90 and a World Series
title in '89. He had his greatest year in 1992, when he won the Cy
Young Award and the AL MVP.
Eckersley also became known for the pinch-hit homer he allowed
to Kirk Gibson in the 1988 Series against the underdog Dodgers.
Gibson hobbled to the plate with a hurt hamstring, then hit a
full-count, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to win the
game and send the Dodgers on their way to the title.
Another postseason homer haunts him more: Roberto Alomar hit a
tying homer for Toronto off the right-hander in the '92 playoffs.
"That one brought me to tears," Eckersley said. "It was like
I was in Little League or something. That hurt. We were losing two
games to one and I gave up game-tying HR in Game 4, and I thought I
was responsible.
"That was the year I got the MVP and Cy Young. The whole
offseason, everybody was saying, 'Hooray for you,' but I never
really felt it. That's how hard I am on myself. When you get done
playing wish you'd have appreciated things more, and that's one of
them. They talk about moving on; I didn't really move on."
Eckersley reached the big leagues in 1975 with Cleveland, and he
pitched a no-hitter against the Angels in 1977.
It wasn't until 10 years later -- after stints with the Red Sox
and Cubs -- that he became a closer.
After completing a month of alcohol treatment in January 1987,
Eckersley went to spring training with the Cubs. They traded him to
the A's during the first week of the season.
"I started, I got sober, I relieved. The timing was
incredible," said Eckersley, who went on to record 390 saves,
third on baseball's career list behind Lee Smith (478) and John
Franco (424).
He retired at age 44 after the 1998 season.
"Once you're hot, you think you're going to be there forever.
You think you're on top forever, but I couldn't sustain it
starting," Eckersley said. "It was a transformation. ... I was
willing to do anything -- first to save my life and then to save my
career."