1976 Topps Dennis Eckersley rookie. Dennis Eckersley is a Hall of Fame pitcher best known for his dominant career as both a starter and a closer. He played 24 MLB seasons (1975–1998) with teams including the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Eckersley started as a successful starting pitcher—throwing a no-hitter in 1977—but reinvented himself in the late 1980s as a lights-out closer for the A’s. In 1992, he won both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award after a stellar season as a reliever. He was known for pinpoint control and a fierce mound presence.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 and later became a well-regarded TV analyst for the Red Sox.
