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 always had the attitude that I wanted to throw a no-hitter every game.
I can't recall too much about pitching, but I do remember that I was anxious to get it over with. I just wanted to get that first game over with and go from there.
The thing that got me over the hump was accepting that I had to do whatever I could to stay in the game
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.
But through experience I learned to control my body and locate the ball.
My career spanned the era when relievers started to become more important
Then you figure out that if you don't throw it as hard as you can, you can put it where you want. It's more important where you put it
When I started finishing games and coming off the field shaking hands, it was a beautiful thing. I mean, you start seeing that you're an important part of the team.
It took a great deal of acceptance to come to terms with being an alcoholic but acceptance was the key to my sobriety... If I didn't have acceptance at that time in my life I would not be standing here today.
Pitching... sometimes I did so poorly, it brought me to tears
Sooner or later you learn that you belong in the big leagues, and that makes you calm down