Between 1975 and 1998, Eckersley pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in MLB history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility. He is also noted as the pitcher who gave up a dramatic walk-off home run (a phrase Eckersley coined) to the injured Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

This Rawlings official Major League baseball was signed in blue by Eckersley and inscribed, "A.L. Cy Young 1992." This baseball includes a Steiner hologram and COA.