COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Dennis Eckersley can still come up with the save in a tough spot.
Flanked by 50 Hall of Famers, cheered by hundreds of fans, and staring out at his parents, Eckersley repeatedly fought back tears yesterday and managed to complete his induction speech into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Eckersley, who was a cocky right-hander with a mustache and shaggy hair as a player, was humbled as never before.
"It was brutal. I've never been through something like this. I can't explain it," said Eckersley, who was elected on the first ballot in January with former Milwaukee Brewers star Paul Molitor. "I've been nervous before, but you just don't know how it's going to come off. I'd rather pitch. It's overwhelming."
Even more overwhelming than Eckersley was on the mound. In 24 seasons with five teams, he appeared in 1,071 games, the most of any Hall of Fame pitcher, and finished with a record of 197-171 and 390 saves.
The sweet-swinging Molitor accumulated 3,319 hits in his 21-year career with Milwaukee, Toronto and Minnesota.
Eckersley, who broke in with Cleveland in 1975, began his career anew after the Chicago Cubs dealt him to Oakland at the start of the 1987 season -- when his baseball life seemed all but over because of drinking problem.
Under the guidance of manager Tony La Russa and bullpen coach Dave Duncan, Eckersley was converted from a starter into an overpowering reliever and quickly became the game's dominant closer.
It was a revolutionary idea at the time, transformed the position into what it is today, and became his ticket to Cooperstown. But without seeking help for his alcoholism prior to that season, Eckersley wouldn't have attained the highest honor in the sport.
Recalling that struggle produced the most poignant moment of his speech.
"I was spiraling out of control personally. I knew I had come to a crossroads in my life. With the grace of God, I got sober and I saved my life," Eckersley said, pausing to regain his composure as the crowd applauded loudly. "I was a new man, a renewed man. It took a great deal of acceptance to come to terms with being an alcoholic, but acceptance was the key to my sobriety. If I had not gained acceptance at that time in my life, I would not be standing here today. My career would not have taken me this far."
Even Molitor, who spoke first, was wiping his eyes as Eckersley spoke.
"It definitely hit me," Molitor said. "I was emotionally taken to tears. Part of it is knowing Dennis and knowing his heart is in it. Part of it rings a bell to things that you go through on your own. I've gone through divorce in the past three years and I had problems with drugs early in my career. I know that there are battles out there that can be won, but they take their toll."
Also inducted were longtime A's and Giants broadcaster Lon Simmons, who won the Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. The New York Times' Murray Chass gained entrance as the J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.
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Candy Zapata of Castro Valley, Calif. advertises her love for Dennis Eckersley before the induction ceremony for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday.
Click photo for larger image.
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First Published: July 26, 2004, 4:00 a.m.