On April 3, 1987, the Chicago Cubs trade seemingly over-the-hill pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland A’s for three minor leaguers. Eckersley will emerge as the game’s dominant closer, saving 291 games over the next eight seasons, and earning election to the Hall of Fame in 2004.
On May 25, 1984, the Boston Red Sox acquire first baseman/outfielder Bill Buckner from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Dennis Eckersley and infielder Mike Brumley. Buckner will give the Red Sox nearly three productive seasons, but will be remembered mostly for his critical error in Game Six of the 1986 World Series.
On July 13, 1982, the first All-Star Game outside of the United States is held at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. In the first All-Star game played outside the United States, the National League cruises to its 11th straight win, beating the American League at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, 4 – 1. Dave Concepcion’s 2nd-inning two-run homer off…
At Texas, the Boston Red Sox pull off a 1st-inning triple play – 9-4-3 – against the Rangers. It’s Boston’s third triple play of the year (July 23rd and May 10th) tying a major-league record, and it’s needed as the Sox win, 1 – 0. Dennis Eckersley beats Fergie Jenkins.
New York hits five homers off Red Sox starter Dennis Eckersley to win, 6 – 5. Boston also loses speedster Jerry Remy, batting .304 on the season, when he injures a knee sliding home. Remy will appear in only seven more games all year. Remy will never swipe more than 16 bases after coming back, after averaging 35 steals his first four seasons.
At Fenway Park, Dennis Eckersley notches his 20th win of the year as the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays, 5 – 1. Eck allows just four hits, including Roy Howell’s 8th homer, in completing his 16th start.
In a duel of aces, Dennis Eckersley tops Dave Rozema, scattering seven Tiger hits to win, 4 – 1. Eck’s record at Fenway Park is now 10-1. The Sox have 14 hits, led by Jim Rice’s 44th homer of the year. The Yankees top the Blue Jays, 4 – 1, to keep a one-game lead over Boston.
1978 – Boston finally wins against the Yankees, taking a 7 – 3 victory in Yankee Stadium as Dennis Eckersley and Andy Hassler combine to stop the Yankees on four hits. The Yanks score two unearned runs in the 8th on Butch Hobson’s second error of the game (and his 42nd of the year). Carl Yastrzemski, playing CF in place of the injured Fred Lynn, collects his 14th homer of the year in the 9th inning.
1978 – Ron Guidry (21-2) gives up two singles in the 1st inning and that’s it. New York sends 12 runners to the plate and scores seven runs in the 4th inning to win, 7 – 0, against Dennis Eckersley and cut the Boston lead to a single game. For Guidry, it is his 7th shutout of the year, and the first lefty shutout in Fenway Park since Ken Holtzman fired one on August 5, 1974.
Dennis Eckersley (15-5) shuts out the Angels, 6 – 0, on four hits to run his Fenway Park record to 8-0. Jim Rice belts his 32nd homer, off former teammate Don Aase, one of three hits he garners.
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