TTM Stats
- Sent: 12/23/2021 | Received: 1/22/2022 | 29 Days
- ’81 Topps, ’87 Donruss, ’89 Topps, ’90 Upper Deck (plus fee)
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Dennis Eckersley is a former right-handed pitcher who played as both a starter and a reliever in the major leagues. The Hall of Famer and Cy Young Award winner played from 1975 to 1998 with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox (twice), Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Eckersley is a native of the Bay Area of California. He played baseball and football in high school and was the quarterback of the team until senior year when he gave up football to protect his arm. The Indians drafted him out of high school in the third round of the 1972 Major League Draft. Just three years later he made his major league debut on April 12, 1975.
He started his career with the first three years in Cleveland. During that time he earn his first All-Star appearance in 1977, the same year he threw a no-hitter against the Angels. He had a winning record each season with them with either 13 or 14 wins each year. The Indians then traded him to the Red Sox with Fred Kendall for Ted Cox, Bo Diaz, Mike Paxton and Rick Wise.
He spent the next seven seasons in Boston. He earned his second All-Star nod in 1982 and earned Cy Young and MVP votes in the 1978 and ’79 season. In his best year as a starter, 1978, he went 20-8 with a 2.99 ERA with a 2.99 ERA in 268.1 innings pitched. Toward the end of his tenure in Boston he started to pitch poorly and his fastball wasn’t what it once was but he started developing his slider.
The Red Sox traded him to the Cubs with Mike Brumley for Bill Buckner. Fortunately he was part of the Cubs run to the postseason that year, their first since 1945. His performance started to deteriorate again and after the 1986 season he checked himself in to a clinic to treat his alcoholism. He was traded again with Dan Rohn to the Athletics for three minor league players.
It was in Oakland that his careeer really changed. Tony La Russa turned him into a reliever and he was a key part of the A’s playoff runs in those years, winning a World Series in 1989 and appearing in others in 1988, 1990, and 1992. He had an amazing five year run from 1988 to 1992 where he made four All-Star teams, and was the Cy Young and MVP Award winner in 1992. He lead the league twice in saves with 45 in 1988 and 51 in 1992. During that span he had only as little as 33 sames in 1989, but at least 43 each of the other years.
He rejoined La Russa in St. Louis in 1996 and 1997 and then ended his career with the Red Sox in 1998, setting up Tom Gordon that season. When he retired he had appeared in more games than any other pitcher all-time but now ranks fifth in that stat.
After playing he’s been broadcasting locally for the Red Sox, but also with TBS in the studio from 2008 to 2012. He also worked the booth, including in the postseason in 2017.
The Score on Dennis Eckersley – 7.0
Dennis was a great pitcher, but he also has a great signature. It’s hard to have a favorite from the selection below. The 1981 Topps card his not from his best years in the league… but that hair. Same with the 1987 Donruss card as that blue marker with the Cubs colors is great. But I think its the 1990 Upper Deck that’s my favorite. I will always think of him as an A.
Thanks Mr. Eckersley! I’m giving this return a 7.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.