Oakland Athletics Top Ten Pitchers in Franchise History

#6: RHP Dennis Eckersley

Dennis Eckersley didn’t get his start with the Athletics, but rather with the Cleveland Indians. In 1977, he had an All-Star season for the Tribe and even pitched a no-hitter on May 30, but he was traded following some off-field issues with one of his Indians teammates.

It was a big loss for the Tribe, but after stints with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, Eckersley found his home with the Oakland Athletics from 1987 to 1995.

Eckersley began his career as a starter, but the Bay Area native found much of his success as a reliever. He was a six-time All-Star, and twice was named the Relief Man of the Year. In 1992, he won the Cy Young and the MVP following a season in which he saved 51 games and posted a 1.91 ERA in 80 innings, striking out 93 batters in the process.

Eckersley was also an instrumental part of the 1989 World Series win, as well as MVP of the 1988 ALCS. Twice, he led the league in saves. It’s hard to think of a more prominent reliever than Eckersley, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 on his first appearance on the ballot.

In 2005, the A’s retired Eckersley’s number 43 in honor of the reliever’s accomplishments with the team. After his time with the A’s, Eckersley spent two years with the Cardinals and a year with the Red Sox, but his best years were definitely in Oakland.

Next: Top Ten Pitchers: #5