When fans of the Oakland Athletics recall their glory years from 1988 until 1992, two names generally come up automatically, Dave Stewart & Dennis Eckersley. Each pitcher made a unique comeback in their careers while enjoying success during their years with Oakland.
Dave Stewart, an original draft pick of the L.A. Dodgers in the late 1970's, didn't have success right away starting his career in the bull pen with the club. While he had solid stuff, his record with the dodgers fluctuated during his tenure with the club, he ended up being traded to the texas rangers in 1983.
During his brief stay with the club, Dave's win loss record suffered greatly, as recorded a 12-20 record over 3 seasons. Teams were beginning to wonder whether Dave would ever be a winner in baseball. With his next club the Philadelphia Phillies, Stewart was once again used out of the bullpen, as the coaching staff had little confidence with him on the mound.
The Oakland A's came calling on the Phillies for pitcher Dave Stewart in mid 1986 not that long after the season had begun. Critics had said Dave Stewart's career was done and considered a wash out. Manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan, both liked what they saw in Stewart's over all mechanics. They also allowed Dave to use a pitch, none of his previous 3 clubs would allow, the fork ball a pitch thrown exclusively by pitchers with long fingers.
During the following 7 seasons Dave Stewart silenced every critic and showed his previous teams, he really was a winning pitcher. He achieved four straight 20-win seasons, a feat which even the legendary Sandy Koufax didn't accomplish; establishing himself with his hometown team, the Oakland Athletics, as not only one of the biggest big-game pitchers ever, but one of the classiest guys to ever wear a uniform. Dave's record with Oakland was 119-78 .604% 3.73 era, he pitched 49 complete games and nine shutouts, and struck out 1,152 batters while walking 655.
Oakland won a world series in 1989, however, their resurgence wouldn't have been possible without another supposed washed up pitcher Dennis Eckersley. Oakland obtained Eckersley in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in a trade that turned out to be quite unbelievable. Dennis finished the 1986 season with a 6-11 record in his final season with the Cubs, at that time many experts thought his career was also toast.
Manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan wanted to use him exclusively as a relief pitcher. Both men felt that utilizing Dennis in that manner would prolong his career, plus he could throw the stuffing out of the ball all the time.
Before arriving with his new club, Dennis spent the off season at the Betty Ford Center to seek treatment for his alcoholism after a family member showed what he looked like while he was drunk. During the 1987 season Dennis was both a starting and relief pitcher, where he only started 2 games and finished the season with 16 saves, little did anyone know the best was yet to come with feats possibly never to be equalled. Starting in 1988 through 1992 Dennis saved 220 games, a feat no other relief pitcher came claim.
When Dennis Eckersley was on he was nearly unhittable. He is the only closer in the history of baseball to win a Cy Young Award and MVP in the same season in 1992. His seasons were dominant that even the great Mariano Rivera still hasn't had a comparable season to Eckersley. He is Oakland's leader in saves. He was known for his sidearm delivery and his impeccable control. Baseball experts were simply stunned by the success Dennis was having pitching out of the bull pen, no bad for a guy these same experts thought was toast when he was traded to Oakland. Dennis saved 320 games for the A's during his 9 year tenure with the club, for each time he came into a game, A's fans could relax knowing the game was over when Eck was summoned.
The unique thing about the comebacks these two pitchers enjoyed in their career resurrection with Oakland, was that many baseball experts thought Oakland was crazy for obtaining both of these pitchers a year apart. Like in some cases, sometimes a change of scenery or a different playing role can make the biggest difference for a career. Both Dave and Dennis are remembered fondly in Oakland.
Today Dave Stewart is a player agent for sports players, while Dennis is a television commentator for the Boston Red Sox. Dennis was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 2004, after retiring in 1998.
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