Baseball Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley had two iterations of an incredible career.
First, he was a Hall of Fame pitcher, then he was an legendary broadcaster.
After several years broadcasting for the Boston Red Sox, Eckersley retired after the 2022 season, citing desire to move back to the Bay Area and be with family.
But "Eck" was back at Fenway Park this weekend and caught up with Rob Bradford of the 'Baseball Isn't Boring' Podcast to discuss how much he misses being behind the microphone.
“I miss it. I miss being alive...It was sad leaving. That was a great day for me, even though it was sad, because it wasn’t just the broadcasting. It was the end of 40 years.”
The Red Sox fans certainly miss Eckersley as well, as he was one of the most beloved figures in the organization. His quirky catchphrases and his passion for the game resonated with Sox fans all over New England.
As a player, Eck was one of the best as well, earning a Hall of Fame induction in 2004.
He spent 24 years in the major leagues, playing for the Oakland Athletics, Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals.
He registered 197 wins in a career that saw him start 361 games. He also nailed down 390 career saves and led the league in saves in two separate years, including getting 51 saves at the age of 37.
The Red Sox have not fully replaced him on the NESN broadcast, but they've used a rotating group of analysts including Lou Merloni, Will Middlebrooks, Kevin Youkilis and Kevin Millar.
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