Dennis Eckersley is looking back on a baseball career packed with big moments, and the one that still stands out most to him is the one that hurt the most.
The former Athletics ace revisited Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, when Kirk Gibson hit the walk-off home run that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the win. Los Angeles went on to capture the title that year, and Eckersley admitted the play sits near the top of his personal list for a different reason.
“If you can accept being a great player, you have to accept when it doesn't happen,” Eckersley said, per MLB Network, in a new interview.
The loss stung in the moment. The Athletics were favored in the series, and Eckersley was on the mound when Gibson changed everything with one swing. Even so, Eckersley said that experience has taken on a different meaning for him over time.
“It's my proudest moment because I knew I just got to stand up man, I just got to stand up,” Eckersely said. “…What are you made of.”
Eckersley has long remained a familiar face around the game since his playing days ended. He is frequently seen on baseball television broadcasts and has stayed connected to the sport in retirement.
His resume is stacked. Eckersley won the World Series with the Athletics in 1989 and later took home the AL Cy Young in 1992 while pitching for the team. He was also a six-time All-Star and spent parts of his career with the Athletics in Oakland, the Boston Red Sox, and several other clubs.
His final season came with the Red Sox in 1998. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame more than 20 years ago, and Athletics fans have plenty to remember from his time with the franchise - including both the triumphs and the heartbreak.
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