How A Relief Pitcher Won MVP

After a dominant year that saw him save 51 games, Dennis Eckersley took home the Cy Young and MVP awards in 1993. And surprisingly he wasn't the first relief pitcher to win the MVP as Rollie Fingers did in 1981 and Willie Hernandez did in 1984. No relief pitcher had won the MVP since Eckersley in 1993 and only Eric Gagne in 2003 has won the Cy Young.
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[@boxcarhobo7017]

The fact Dennis when asked if he deserved the award said, 'No. But I ain't givin' it back.' makes him so winning and relatable. Dude was the people's player. His alcoholic moment of clarity story is, well, sobering. If you've never heard it, it's amazing and ultimately heartwarming. Basically, he was a single dad who had his little daughter for the weekend, but had the fellas over for a birthday party where he proceeded to get so drunk he blacked out and acting a fool. His daughter videotaped her father's drunken antics and then the next morning while nursing a hangover, she quietly showed him the footage of himself the night before. The embarrassing display he had no recollection of before him coupled with the fact he was a wildly irresponsible father immediately sent Dennis to rehab and turn his life around. So his daughter is somewhat responsible for making Dennis the hall of famer he is today.
Also, never knew the term 'walk-off homer' came from him and that damn Kurt Gibson iconic shot from game one of '88 series. The A's and Dennis made up for it one year later though sweeping the Giants in the series. Where were the Dodgers?

[@bigbearkat2010]

Though the reason he became a single father is whole other story on it's own.

[@cheddarcheese7928]

In 1990,it wasent that Thigpen just had more saves than Eck..It was the single season record at the time..But arguably, Eck may have still deserved the relief man of the yr

[@yoholmes273]

Love that you're still carrying the banner for Thigpen!

[@daveminion6209]

i saw Eck in early 80s at Wrigley Fld with Cubbies, with Rick S. and Lee (Smith) Baby!! good times.

[@cardinalsbaseballclassics]

I remember watch Sutcliffe, Lee Smith, and the Eck with the Cardinals. They looked much better in red.

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

I love videos like this⚾️

[@ILoveMisty1985]

Good video, but I thought Jim Konstanty, a reliever, won the NL MVP in 1950.

[@adamjures2872]

Yes

[@winstonjames2583]

And willie hernandez in 1984....he's just the LAST ONE EVER

[@winstonjames2583]

Noone hasn't done a video on him(konstanty)..
He had a regular career tbh...but was ahead of his time

[@unkledoda420]

​@@winstonjames2583Eckersly isn't the last reliever to win the CYA, that would be Gagne in 2003.

[@chriskeck3689]

That's what I thought too! I was about to look that up, but decided to check the comments before hand. Nice catch!

[@valhallaoutcast]

A's fan for the last 35 years, he was my favourite player as a kid

[@mitchelvalentino1569]

Eck was great.
And fwiw, the term _saves_ isn’t new. It has been around for about 70 years, and the concept has existed for even longer .

[@Akkbar21]

I was 9 when he pulled this off. A’s were a special team that year.

[@concretecobras8032]

mason miller is definitely on pace for an MVP

[@Matricks513]

This channel is good

[@PaladinYT]

It's "Steeb" btw, great video though!

[@Mr.MikeBarksdale]

Eck's mustache is so manly that he makes the mustache on your talliwhacker want to grow a mustache on its talliwhacker.

[@yoholmes273]

What? 😂

[@dantegabriel8856]

I want to preface this by saying I'm not an As fan by means but I got a little excited thinking this was a Rollie Fingers video

[@tedevans4936]

Good video.. sure youll be corrected on Dave Steib.. Prob to young to remember him. But an idea for a video is Dave Steib masters of one hitters. Im pretty sure he had like 4 no hitters going into 9th before he finally got one.

[@theathletearchives]

He honestly deserved that MVP. Those stats were insane. Once in a generation kind of stats for a reliever.

[@shoukatsukai]

Eck winning MVP is weird but at least it aint the worst award winner of the decade. Bob Welch, a career no. 2, not even the best pitcher on his own team, won Cy Young in 1990 on the back of 27 wins. Imagine if Kyle Wright won Cy Young in 2022 just bc he had 21 wins.

[@ryanclark3935]

Pronounced "STEEB"

[@javiermora5046]

Jim Konstanty (1950) Rollie Fingers (1981) and Willie Hernandez (1984) also won the MVP. Eckersley was the last of relievers to won the MVP.

[@JR-zu9jk]

Uncle Rico is that you ?!?

[@BigItalian_Chesseburger]

We're never see a Closer winning the MVP again.

[@christophercasey7388]

Other teams didn't "take suit," they "followed suit."

[@yoholmes273]

No person ever said Gagne should be MVP.
Decent video, doof narrator.

[@randallmartin2508]

Dave Stibe? It’s pronounced Dave Steeb. Terrible.

[@yoholmes273]

Haaaaa