Dennis Eckersley Net Worth: As Of December 2022, Dennis Eckersley Net Worth is roughly $20 million. Baseball pitcher and former color commentator Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3, 1954), better known by his nickname “Eck,” played professionally in the United States. Pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals between 1975 and 1998 in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Eckersley was one of only two pitchers in major league history to record 20 win seasons and 50 save seasons in their careers. While he was successful as a starter, his greatest fame came from his role as a closer.
What are Dennis Eckersley’s Net Worth and Career Earnings?
Dennis Eckersley, a former professional baseball player in the United States, is now worth $20 million after retiring from the sport. Dennis Eckersley spent 23 years as a Major League Baseball player for organizations like the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, and the Oakland Athletics.
As a closer, he became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 20 victories and 50 saves in the same season. Eckersley’s post-retirement career included a stint as a color commentator for New England Sports Network’s coverage of the Boston Red Sox. He won the AL Cy Young Award and was the AL’s most valuable player twice and the World Series twice. In 2004, he was honored by being inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Dennis Eckersley Net Worth: Early Life
Dennis Eckersley grew up in Fremont after being born on October 3, 1954, in Oakland, California. He spent his junior, sophomore, and senior years of high school as the starting quarterback for the Washington High School football team. As a senior, he decided to stop playing to prevent further injury to his throwing arm. Eckersley also participated in baseball while in high school, where he was a star pitcher who amassed 29 victories and was known for his 90 mph fastball.
Teams: Cleveland Indians
During the 1972 Major League Baseball draught, the Cleveland Indians picked Eckersley in the third round. At first, he was dismayed because he had hoped to be drafted by the Giants. After much preparation, Eckersley debuted in the Major Leagues in April of 1975, and he was an instant success, going 13-7 with a 2.60 earned run average and being named the American League’s Rookie of the Year. Even more so than his long hair and mustache, his impressive fastball made him a fan favorite.
Eckersley’s no-hitter against the California Angels in May of 1977 was a highlight of his time with the Indians. That was the year he was first chosen for the All-Star Game.
Red Sox of Boston
After being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox in 1978, Eckersley became a fan favorite. In that year, he won 20 games, the most he had ever won in a season. A total of 17 of his games that season were victories. Over his final four seasons with the Red Sox, Eckersley’s success dwindled, and his fastball lost much of its previously impressive velocity. In 1984, after posting a 43-48 record, he stepped down.
Cubs of Chicago
In 1984, the Chicago Cubs acquired Eckersley in the middle of the season. The team made its first playoff appearance in 39 years that year, which was a major accomplishment. Eckersley recorded an 11-7 record with two shutouts the following year. His 1986 performance dropped, as evidenced by his 6-11 record and 4.57 earned run average. After the season ended, Eckersley checked himself into a rehabilitation center because he had been struggling with alcoholism.
The Oakland A’s
Manager Tony La Russa wanted to use Eckersley as a long reliever or set-up pitcher, so in 1987 the Athletics acquired him in exchange for a player to be named later. In his rookie year with the Athletics, he closed out 16 games. The following year, he solidified his status as a top closer by recording 45 saves, which led the league.
Eckersley had saves in all four games as the Athletics swept the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. The Athletics fell short in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they bounced back in a big way to sweep the World Series the following year against the San Francisco Giants.
Eckersley dominated as a baseball closer from 1988 to 1992. During this time, he had a 2.96 career ERA and saved 220 games. Also, in 1989, Eckersley walked only three batters in 57.2 innings, in 1990, he walked four batters in 73.1 innings, and in 1991, he walked nine batters in 76 innings. In 1992, he was recognized for his efforts by being named the AL Most Valuable Player and receiving the Cy Young Award. His statistics went downhill from there, and he was eventually made available as a free agent following the 1994 season. It was in 1995 that Eckersley renewed his agreement with the Athletics for another year.
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Years of Playing Ending
For Eckersley’s 1996 season with the St. Louis Cardinals, he was dealt. Over his two years with the team, he maintained his dominant closer role and recorded 66 saves. In 1998, the Red Sox re-signed Eckersley for a second time, and he became Tom Gordon’s setup man. He said he was leaving Major League Baseball at the year’s end. In his professional career, Eckersley went 197-171 with 390 saves and a 3.5 ERA.
Salary Gains Over Time
The sum total of Dennis Eckersley’s salary was $27.6 million. Endorsements brought in a few more million for him. In 1993 and 1994, at the height of his career, he averaged $3.8 million in annual salary. Taking into account inflation, that sum would be equivalent to $7.5 million in modern dollars.
A Post-Sports Profession
Since joining the New England Sports Network in 2003, Eckersley has worked as a studio analyst and color commentator for Red Sox games. He was instantly recognizable on air for his affable demeanor and quirky use of language. Eckersley worked as a studio analyst for TBS from 2008 to 2012, and then went on to call Sunday games and provide postseason analysis for the network.
Dennis Eckersley Net Worth: Personal Life
Eckersley has gone through several marriages. Mandee was born to him and his first wife, Denise, in 1973. Denise had an affair with Eckersley’s teammate Rick Manning in 1978, while they were still married. Eckersley married the model Nancy O’Neil two years later. Following Eckersley’s retirement from baseball in 1998, the couple, who had two children together, Allie and Jake, split up. Jennifer Eckersley, a former lobbyist, is Eckersley’s third wife.
Of note, an MLB Network documentary centers around Eckersley. A film titled “Eck: A Story of Saving” made its debut on the channel in the winter of 2018.
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