Friends, that is one fine mullet.

I assure you that a Google Image Search for the man turns up plenty more of the same.

Dennis Eckersley. Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, to put it in terms that Jim Palmer would understand. I actually didn't realize that his career went on as long as it did. I remember him giving up that homerun to Kirk Gibson in '88, and obviously being a great closer for that Oakland run in the late '80s and early '90s. I don't remember him closing games for two years in Saint Louis, and I really don't remember him being a set-up man for Boston in 1998, although that does give his career a nice symmetry, since he rose to prominence in Boston.

What a strange team, those '98 Red Sox. Seriously, look at that roster. Nobody other than Mo and Nomar in the lineup, and Pedro in the rotation. How did that team win 92 games? They seriously started Bret Saberhagen and Steve Avery 54 times? Eck and Derek Lowe were setting up Flash Gordon to close? How odd. But they did have El Guapo. No, that photo wasn't re-sized to make him look fat. He is fat.

I digress, but then that is the point.

Pedestrian back-of-card, in keeping with my good player/boring card theory. Again, nothing but good things to say, with the exception of the very last tidbit: Had shoulder problems in '85, which I suppose is relevant enough for a card printed in 1989. I did a quick bit of research, and I assure you that the only claim to fame that any of those other four players listed have is that they were once a part of a trade that included Dennis Eckersley. In fact, I hope they break that out to impress the grandkids - I was once traded for Dennis Eckersley. Gee Grampa, you must have been really good! Of course Grampa was good! And so on. . .