Oakland Athletics: Top 10 Seasons By Relief Pitchers
By Phil Watson
8. Dennis Eckersley, 1987
| Year ▾ | Age | W | L | ERA | G | GF | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA+ | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 32 | 6 | 8 | 3.03 | 54 | 33 | 16 | 115.2 | 99 | 39 | 11 | 17 | 113 | 137 | 1.003 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/5/2014.
Eckersley came over from the Cubs just before the season opener along with outfielder Dan Rohn in exchange for minor leaguers Brian Guinn, Dave Wilder and Mark Leonette and turned into one of the greatest steals in baseball history. At the end of the line as a starter, Eckersley reluctantly went to the bullpen and launched the second phase of a Hall of Fame career after he took over the closer’s duties from Jay Howell.
He was sixth in the American League with 16 saves.
Eckersley converted 16 of 20 save opportunities and also logged two holds, allowing 11 of 50 inherited runners to score. His ALI was 1.261.
He was second among AL relievers with a 1.003 WHIP, fourth with an opponents OPS-plus of 68, sixth with a 3.03 ERA and .228 opponents batting average, seventh with 8.79 strikeouts per nine innings and eighth with a 137 ERA-plus.