Dennis Eckersley

Early life

Eckersley grew up in Fremont, California, rooting for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, with boyhood heroes Willie Mays and Juan Marichal, whose high leg kick he later adopted. He attended Washington High School in Fremont, playing quarterback for the football team until his senior year, when he quit to protect his throwing arm. As a pitcher at Washington, he won 29 games, throwing a 90 mph fastball and a screwball.

Baseball career

The Cleveland Indians selected Eckersley in the third round of the 1972 MLB draft; he was disappointed not to be drafted by the Giants. He debuted on April 12, 1975, and was named The Sporting News American League Rookie Pitcher of the Year that season with a 13–7 record and 2.60 ERA. His long hair, moustache, and live fastball made him an instant fan favorite. On May 30, 1977, he threw a no-hitter against the California Angels, striking out 12 and allowing two base runners.

He earned his first All-Star selection that year and finished 14–13. On March 30, 1978, the Indians traded him and Fred Kendall to the Boston Red Sox for Rick Wise, Mike Paxton, Bo Díaz, and Ted Cox. With Boston, he won a career-high 20 games in 1978 and 17 in 1979, posting a 2.99 ERA each year. From 1980 to 1984, his performance declined, going 43–48, as his fastball lost velocity; he later developed an effective slider.

On May 25, 1984, the Red Sox traded him and Mike Brumley to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Buckner. He went 10–8 with a 3.03 ERA that year, helping the Cubs to their first postseason since 1945.

In 1985 he posted an 11–7 record with the final two shutouts of his career. His performance deteriorated in 1986, going 6–11 with a 4.57 ERA, after which he entered a rehabilitation clinic for alcoholism. He later said family members videotaped him while drunk and played it back for him, making him realize the problem.

Post-playing career

In 1999, Eckersley ranked number 98 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 6, 2004, with 83.2% of the vote in his first year of eligibility. On August 13, 2005, the Oakland Athletics retired his uniform number 43. The baseball field at Washington High School was named in his honor.

In 2017, he rejoined the Athletics as special assistant to team president Dave Kaval. Eckersley began working as a studio analyst and color commentator for the Boston Red Sox on NESN in 2002, known for his easy-going manner and unique baseball vernacular, which fans tracked via "The Ecktionary." In spring 2009, he filled in for regular commentator Jerry Remy, and later served as primary substitute, including for the final two months of the 2013 season.

He also worked with TBS as a studio analyst from 2008 to 2012, then moved to the booth in 2013 for Sunday games and postseason analysis. He announced his retirement from NESN on August 8, 2022, stating he would remain an ambassador for the club.

Personal life

Eckersley married his first wife Denise in 1973; they had a daughter, Mandee. Denise left him for teammate Rick Manning in 1978, precipitating his trade to the Red Sox. He married model Nancy O'Neil in 1980; they adopted two children, Jake and Alexandra, and divorced shortly after his retirement.

His third wife, Jennifer, is a former lobbyist who manages his business and charitable affairs. Eckersley had problems with alcohol during the first half of his career and became sober in January 1987. In December 2022, his adopted daughter Alexandra was arrested for abandoning her newborn in cold weather and misleading authorities; in October 2024, she received an 18-month suspended sentence contingent on mental health treatment.

Did You Know?

• Eckersley's no-hitter on May 30, 1977, included 12 strikeouts and only two base runners: Tony Solaita on a walk and Bobby Bonds on a third strike that was a wild pitch.
• An MLB Network documentary about Eckersley, titled Eck: A Story of Saving, premiered on December 13, 2018.