Dennis Eckersley Quotes

The thing that got me over the hump was accepting that I had to do whatever I could to stay in the game

Sooner or later you learn that you belong in the big leagues, and that makes you calm down

But through experience I learned to control my body and locate the ball.

I can't recall too much about pitching, but I do remember that I was anxious to get it over with. I just wanted to get that first game over with and go from there.

They developed a platform for me to put up another 12 years, and that was my ticket to Cooperstown. Those were the best years of my life. It was like magic.

My career spanned the era when relievers started to become more important

Pitching... sometimes I did so poorly, it brought me to tears

When I started finishing games and coming off the field shaking hands, it was a beautiful thing. I mean, you start seeing that you're an important part of the team.

Later, I could take something off my slider and I could make my fastball sink, so I really had four pitches.

I always had the attitude that I wanted to throw a no-hitter every game.

I was a starter and did some good things there, and then I got a chance to prove myself as a closer. Because of that opportunity, I was blessed with the honor of being elected to the Hall of Fame.

That first year in Chicago was one of the most memorable in my career. Getting traded rejuvenated me, and I had something to prove. I wanted to show them what I could do

I also think that I had great mechanics.

Then you figure out that if you don't throw it as hard as you can, you can put it where you want. It's more important where you put it

When I first came up, the bullpen was pretty much where they put the guys who couldn't start.

You aren't going to stick around long with just two pitches

People say baseball players should go out and have fun. No way. To me, baseball is pressure, I always feel it. This is work. The fun is afterwards, when you shake hands.

I was in good control of my body, and I kept my head still.

It took me a few years to realize that throwing harder wasn't always better.

I'm proud of the fact that I pitched almost 3,300 innings.