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Former Closer Eckersley Hopes Hall Calls

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 January 2004, 06:00 CST

Former Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley hopes to become only the third reliever elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America when voting results are announced Tuesday.

He and 3,000-hit man Paul Molitor, both on the ballot for the first time, have impressive Cooperstown credentials.

"I've got my hopes up, but I'm guarded," Eckersley said Monday. "It's very understandable if I don't. You don't know what people think of you."

One player who knows he won't be elected is Pete Rose, still ineligible to be included on the ballot because of his lifetime ban from the sport.

In his autobiography that comes out Thursday, baseball's career hits leader finally admits to betting on baseball while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The confession could affect how or when commissioner Bud Selig rules on Rose's application for reinstatement.

Rose is running out of time to be elected by the writers. His last chance to appear on the ballot is December 2005. After that, if he's reinstated, he could be voted in by the veterans' committee.

Rose has gotten 18 write-in votes in each of the past two years.

Eckersley will have far more support. And how he fares in his first chance at election could have a ripple effect for other relievers.

Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith and Goose Gossage were all on the ballot again this year. Several active closers, led by San Diego's Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees, will warrant Hall of Fame consideration after they retire. And though the bullpen has become such an important part of modern baseball, voters have been slow to reward star relievers with enshrinement in Cooperstown.

Part of the problem is there's no magic number for saves as there is for home runs (500), hits (3,000) or wins (300). Eckersley is third on the career saves list with 390, but saves didn't become an official statistic until 1969.

Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers are the only relief pitchers who have been elected to the Hall by the BBWAA. Wilhelm got the call in 1985, Fingers in '92.

Since then, a handful of dominant closers have come up for election and been passed over. If Eckersley doesn't even get in, where does that leave them?

Sutter, who seems to be gaining support, appeared on 53.6 percent of the ballots last year. It takes 75 percent to be elected. The ballots are cast by BBWAA members who have been a part of the organization for at least 10 years.

Smith, the career saves leader with 478, got 210 votes last year when 372 were needed. Gossage was selected on 209 ballots.

Eckersley's run of dominance provides a good measuring stick for modern closers. Relying on pinpoint control, he was the most effective reliever in baseball from 1988-92, helping the Athletics to four division titles and a World Series championship.

He won the AL MVP and Cy Young Awards in 1992 with one of the greatest seasons by a reliever, going 7-1 with 51 saves and a 1.91 ERA.

But what sets Eckersley apart from other relievers is the early success he had as a starting pitcher before he converted to a closer.

The six-time All-Star won 20 games for Boston in 1978 and even threw a no-hitter for Cleveland in 1977. He finished with 197 wins and 1,071 appearances in a 24-year career.

Molitor appears to be a lock for election.

With quick wrists and smarts at the plate, he ranks eighth on the career list with 3,319 hits. He batted .306 with 1,782 runs and 1,307 RBIs in 21 seasons for Milwaukee (1978-92), Toronto (1993-95) and Minnesota (1996-98).

A seven-time All-Star, Molitor also was the MVP of the 1993 World Series for the Blue Jays. He hit .418 in his two World Series appearances, and will begin his first season as batting coach for Seattle this year.

"He had an awesome career," Mariners DH Edgar Martinez said. "He was a great hitter, one of the best. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame."

Only 38 people have been elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in their first year of eligibility. There are 256 members of the Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies will be held July 25 in Cooperstown, the small village in upstate New York.

Jim Rice, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg lead the other returning candidates who hope this is their year.

Slugging switch-hitter Eddie Murray and All-Star catcher Gary Carter were inducted last year.

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AP Sports Writers Janie McCauley and Rick Gano contributed to this story.

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