Eck, the Hall of Fame Major League Baseball pitcher, is our pick for the best athlete to wear number 43. Dennis Eckersley was primarily a starting pitcher with the Indians, Red Sox and Cubs from 1975 through 1986. It was in 1987 with the Oakland Athletics, that Eck started compiling his impressive career saves total of 390 as a reliever (three of these were between the years of 1975 and 1986.)
According to the Baseball Hall of Fame website, "Dennis Eckersley blazed a unique path as a big league pitcher, one that most likely will never be repeated. He began as a young hotshot starting pitcher, mowing down hitters with a blazing fastball. But years later, when it looked as if he was just another washed up hurler just happy to be hanging on, he was transformed, thanks to his pinpoint control, into the game's top reliever. This success story ends with the game's ultimate happy ending - election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame." Read the full Hall of Fame baseball biography for Dennis Eckersley by clicking here:
MLB HOF Dennis Eckersley
Some of Eck's credentials:
- 1992 AL Cy Young winner
- 1992 AL MVP
- 1988 NLCS MVP
- 2004 Hall of Fame inductee
- 6-time All-Star ('77, '82, '88, '90, '91, '92)
- 197 career wins
- 24 year pitching career
- 1988, 1992 Rolaids Relief Man of the Year winner
Did you know......Dennis Eckersley and John Smoltz are the only two pitchers in baseball history who have recorded both 20-win and 50-save seasons?
(photo courtesy of usatoday.com)
43
Relievers
Jersey Number 43
Oakland Athletics
When Troy Polamalu's career is over we will need to have this number reviewed. He is the playmaker.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be Petty's car? And no Spider Lockhart?
ReplyDeletegotta be Petty...has had it painted on his car for 50 + years...nuf said.
ReplyDeleteRichard Petty over Eck? Please! Eck played America's sport. In what he did, there was none better!
ReplyDeletePolamalu might be great now, but he'll never be as dominant in football as Eck was is baseball.
Eck was a great starter, reliever, and closer. In order for Polamalu to even be in the same sentence as Eck, he would have to play both strong free safety at an all pro level, plus be a shut down corner.
Polamalu is a playmaker, but Eck was the game-ending show stopper.
And please, NASCAR drivers don't belong anywhere on this list.
ReplyDeleteTrue, NASCAR shouldn't even be considered a sport. Maybe it should be considered a "left turn... left turn.. left turn... left turn... snoozefest" ECK is the man. My favorite pitcher growing up. We had no team in Miami or Florida back then and The Oakland A's were my favorite team until We got The Marlins, but I still have love the A's they are my 2nd favorite now.
DeleteWhat the @#$%???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has to be Richard Petty. He is the King. OK, All in favor in putting Petty comment in Aye
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