Dennis Eckersley says goodbye to Red Sox broadcast booth in emotional way (Video)

Boston Red Sox fans have countless reasons to be emotional over this season, and Dennis Eckersley gave yet another.

Boston Red Sox fans have countless reasons to be emotional over this season. The team produced far from favorable results over the regular season, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers aren’t guaranteed to return, Jerry Remy had a moving tribute at the start of the season and now, Dennis Eckersley has officially said his goodbyes to Boston.

The Athletic MLB tweeted Eck’s departing words, and they were extremely heartwarming but hard to hear as his time with the Red Sox came to an end.

He started by thanking Boston and New England for having him around, then further stated, “Forever in my heart. I’ll be back.”

He closed out his farewell by thanking the Red Sox and NESN and said, “Have a good one. I will.”

It’s bittersweet to watch such a long-standing beloved member of the Red Sox booth close out his career, but his impact will always be remembered.

Dennis Eckersley had a beautiful impact on the Boston Red Sox broadcasts

Eckersley, after 20 seasons with the NESN broadcast team, announced in August that this season would be his last. He’s never been a guy to hold back his emotions during the games, and there was an outpouring of them on Wednesday night during his final go in the booth.

He saluted fans with tears in his eyes as players and coaches alike waved goodbye to him. There was also a tribute to him played on the jumbotron at Fenway Park, leaving hardly any dry eyes in the stadium.

He told Ian Browne of MLB.com, “It is a privilege to be up in this booth. It’s been 50 years since I first signed out of high school [with Cleveland]. Fifty years! Well, it’s been a blessing for me. It’s Boston and it’s passion and it matches my passion. It’s been a beautiful thing, to say the least.”

He’s had a legendary career on and off the field that several fans are beyond grateful to have seen.

Best moments of Red Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley’s career in baseball

Eck was a legend from the moment he stepped onto the field to begin his MLB career in 1975. He played for the Cleveland Indians, now known as the Cleveland Guardians. In his first season, he pitched 34 games, started 24 and produced an ERA of 2.60, batting average against of .215 and WHIP of 1.27.

He went on to play with a plethora of teams for 24 seasons before retiring in 1998 with the Red Sox. He’s won quite a few different awards, including a few Pitcher of the Years, AL MVP, Player of the Year and a Cy Young. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

He earned the AL MVP and Cy Young in the same season (1992), becoming the third relief pitcher in MLB history to win both. He certainly earned it that season, producing an ERA of 1.91, BAA of .211 and WHIP of 0.91.

His impact with the Oakland Athletics is most notable through his playing career. He had a huge part in the Athletics World Series win in 1989, the last one the franchise has won. He closed out the series against the San Francisco Giants by retiring every hitter he faced. He truly found his rhythm as a closer and became one of the best relievers in MLB.

He was a dominant part of the Athletics franchise and still, to this day, one of the most impactful. His transition to broadcasting was seamless and exciting, and there were no doubts that he’d become just as much of a legend off the field.

He began his post-playing journey with NESN in 2003, and unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

His exit is particularly emotional because of the timing of it. After Remy sadly passed away last fall, fans found comfort in knowing Eck would be in the booth a little bit longer as a familiar face that was beloved and enjoyable to listen to.

He’s created a legacy in the sport, both on and off the field, that’s brought together multiple generations for roughly half a century. He gave his thanks on Wednesday, and now it’s time to give him a big ‘thank you’ for all he has done for the sport since 1975.

The booth won’t be the same without him.