Eckersley emotionally reflects on the best moments of his time with the Athletics. This originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Dennis Eckersley had many memorable moments during his time with the Athletics, but none were as quiet as what happened in late October 1989.
And that’s taking into account the memorable MLB season that Eckersley had with the Athletics in 1988.
The legendary closer spoke with NBC Sports California’s Dave Stewart on the latest episode of “All A’s” and reflected on some of his best moments as an Athletics player.
“Remember when we were on a roll in ’88 and we won 14 games in a row?,” Eckersley asked Stewart. “And we were on a roll and nobody could catch us, right? It wasn’t like we were struggling.”
Two years later, after nine years in Oakland, Eckersley returned to his old home of Fenway Park with a sense of purpose.
Eckersley was hoping to lead the Athletics to their first World Series since 1981.
The closer, along with Stewart and others, also made a mark by recording four consecutive saves against the Boston Red Sox, leading to him being named the American League Championship Series MVP and earning a spot in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“And then we played against Boston,” Eckersley added. “I was playing Boston so that was a big deal for me. It was awesome.”
“We went to Fenway (Park). We won two games there. We came back here and won two games. And then we’re playing the Dodgers in the World Series. Playing the Red Sox was big, and then we played the Dodgers.”
In Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, the Athletics, the favorites to win, were leading the Dodgers by one run with two outs.
“And then I was out there hanging in there until Game 1 of the World Series,” Eckersley said. “You start, you get to eighth base, you throw me the ball. No big deal. We’re up by one run.”
That was until Kirk Gibson’s famous walk-off home run.
October 15, 1988: Kirk Gibson hits a two-out, two-run, walk-off pinch-hit home run off Dennis Eckersley while still injured, leading the Dodgers to a 5-4 win over the Athletics in Game 1 of the World Series. pic.twitter.com/yvg9emyWkK
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) October 15, 2023
“Oh man, Kirk Gibson and that whole thing was just unbelievable,” Eckersley said. “I’m still like, ‘Wow, how did that happen? It’s like a miracle.'”
Despite losing to the Dodgers in the World Series, Eckersley and the Athletics would return with a vengeance, and this time Oakland would run away with the historic 1989 “Bay Bridge Series” World Series winners.
It was the final out of that historic series that will be remembered as the biggest highlight of Eckersley’s career.
“At the end of the day, those moments make you who you are,” Eckersley concluded. “You have to live with them. You have to live with the bad as well as the good. The good came back the next year, which I’m grateful for.”
“… We were fortunate to get the last out at Candlestick Park. The last out was a tag out, but it’s not an easy play.
“That’s my highlight. The save, the 20-win season, the no-hitter. That’s what it’s all about. You know, getting that last out is what it’s all about.”