Clutch Moment Again for Duo

Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor excelled in the clutch, so they should be used to it by now. Then again, induction speeches at the Baseball Hall of Fame are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

“I’m getting a little bit more anxious,” said Molitor, contemplating today’s ceremony. “There’s a lot of things to handle.”

Eckersley, a studio analyst on cable TV for Boston Red Sox home games, said he was “uptight” about his induction.

“I feel like the kid that didn’t study for his test until the last night,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult because when you revere something like this, it’s emotional, and I’m a very emotional guy. But I’m going to try to keep it together. It’s amazing what a speech will do to you. I’d better get it done so I can have fun.”

Getting it done was what both did during their long careers. In 24 seasons, Eckersley appeared in 1,071 games, the most of any Hall of Fame pitcher, and finished with a record of 197-171 and 390 saves.

Molitor, now a batting coach for the Seattle Mariners, played 21 seasons, including 15 with the Milwaukee Brewers. He joins Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb as the only players in history with at least 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 500 steals. He’s also the first Hall of Famer to have played more than half of his games as a designated hitter.

Both Eckersley and Molitor were elected in January in their first year of eligibility. Eckersley will wear an A’s cap in the Hall of Fame, and Molitor enters as a Brewer. Longtime A’s and Giants broadcaster Lon Simmons is this year’s Ford C. Frick winner, awarded for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. The New York Times’ Murray Chass gains entrance as the J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.

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Hall of Fame Class of ’04

DENNIS ECKERSLEY

* Born Oct. 3, 1954, in Oakland.

* All-Star in 1977, 1982, 1988, 1990-92.

* Won 1992 American League MVP Award and Cy Young Award.

* Posted overall record of 197-171, 48-41 as a reliever with 390 saves, started 361 games and had 100 complete games, 2,401 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA .

* Elected to Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility.

PAUL MOLITOR

* Born Aug. 22, 1956, in St. Paul, Minn.

* All-Star in 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991 and 1992.

* Finished career with 3,319 hits, 1,782 runs, 605 doubles, 114 triples, 234 homers, 1,307 RBIs, 504 stolen bases and .306 average.

* Only the third player to have at least 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 500 stolen bases.

* Elected to Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility.