In their Hall of Fame induction speeches, Paul Molitor and Dennis Eckersley both singled out their folks. “My parents were there for me, and they’re here for me now,” Eckersley said. Molitor’s parents are deceased but he said, “Somehow, in the midst of raising eight kids, she managed to see me play a lot of games.”
Wild things
Anaheim pitcher Kevin Gregg has had better days than Sunday, but even he doesn’t own the record for most wild pitches in one inning:
5: Rick Ankiel, St. Louis, Oct. 3, 2000
5: Bert Cunningham, Buffalo, Sept. 15, 1890
4: Kevin Gregg, Anaheim, July 25, 2004
4: Phil Niekro, Atlanta, August 4, 1979
4: Walter Johnson, Washington, Sept. 21, 1914
Stomping time
The A’s didn’t show Eckersley’s Hall of Fame speech before the game but cut away to show mascot Stomper dancing and a root beer float drinking contest on the big screen. The team came back to the speech in the second inning.
