During a final press conference last Thursday before his induction this weekend, Dennis Eckersley said the telephone call he received in January to notify him of his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame was the "ultimate moment of his life."

That's saying something, as Eckersley could point to many pivotal moments, both on and off the field, that could take that honor.

Eckersley, who enjoyed a unique 24-year career as both a dominant starter and later, as the closer for the World Champion Oakland A's, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with infielder/designated hitter Paul Molitor, perhaps the least know great hitter in baseball history, on July 25 at 1:30 p.m. on the ground of the Clark Sports Center. Both were elected in their first year of eligibility. Admission is free, and the event will be televised live on ESPN Classic.

Also to be honored Sunday are broadcaster Lon Simmons and New York Times sportswriter Murray Chass, who will be presented with the Ford C. Frick award for baseball broadcasting and the J.G. Taylor Spink award for baseball writing, respectively.

Hall of Fame spokesman Brad Horn said the museum is estimating crowds of around 15,000 for the weekend.

"That's very much in line with last year (when Gary Carter and Eddie Murray were inducted)," he said.

Following is an in-depth look at the lives and careers of Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor.

Dennis Eckersley was born Oct. 3, 1954 in Oakland California. Just 20 years later, "Eck" made the roster of the Cleveland Indians as a self-described cocky 20-year-old. After several relief appearances, he made his first major league start a memorable one, throwing a three-hit, complete game shutout against the Oakland A's.

"In those days I thought I could throw a no-hitter every time out," Eckersely said during an orientation visit to Cooperstown last May. "I was always mad when the other team got a hit."

In 1977, his belief came true, when he no-hit the California Angels on his way to a 14-win season and his first All Star appearance. Although Eckersely was a rising star, the Indians were mired in mediocrity.

"I remember my first game with the Indians," Eckersely recalled. "Frank Robinson was our player/manager and he was the first black manager. On Opening Day there were 50,000 people there and Frank hit a home run. That was my introduction to the big leagues. But the next day there were about 6,000 fans there. That was more the reality of the Indians."

Eckersley was traded to Boston just before the 1978 season, and won 20 games during the season, which ended with Boston's famous, or infamous one game playoff loss to the New York Yankees which featured Bucky Dent's legendary three-run home run. That was the first of a couple of historic home runs Eckersley watched from the losing end, including the one he surrendered to Kirk Gibson to end Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, which many people consider the most dramatic home run in Series history.

While Eckersely's career was skyrocketing, his private life was slowly unraveling due to a drinking problem. After being traded the Chicago Cubs in 1984, he again was part of a legendary playoff collapse, when the Cubs blew a 2-0 lead over the San Diego Padres, watching the Padres win three straight games to advance to the World Series.

Eckersley's career and personal life were in turmoil in 1986, after struggling through a 6-11 season.

"The 1986 offseason was the darkest time for me," Eckersley said last week. "I was in denial that I had a drinking problem and it was a frightening time. But during my recovery, and this is the message I'm going to try and give with my induction speech, I realized hope is the message, not despair."

Whether simply ironic coincidence or pre-ordained fate, shortly after getting sober his career took a Hall of Fame turn for the better when he was traded to the Oakland A's. Eckerlsey was born and raised in Oakland, but grew up loving the San Francisco Giants and Juan Marichal. Oakland manager Tony LaRussa simply told Eck, "Just go the bullpen and we'll figure out what to do with you."

"That wasn't too flattering, but I was in an accepting frame of mind," Eckersley said. "Then the team's closer (Jay Howell) got hurt and I became the closer. I love to go all out with every pitch, so it was a natural fit once I embraced it."

And just like that, a Hall of Fame career was born. Eckersley saved a pedestrian 16 games in 1987, but in '88 he saved 45, beginning a six year run where he saved 256 games. In 1992, he won not only the Cy Young Award but the American League Most Valuable Player award as well, saving a career-high 51 games with a minuscule 1.91 earned run average. In all, Eckersley saved 390 games and won 196 more.

"It's definitely the uniqueness of my career that got me in the Hall of Fame," Eckersley said.

Eckersely said he often listened to longtime Giants' broadcaster Lon Simmons announce games on the radio as a kid, and had what he described as his ultimate moment on the baseball field in 1989, when he recorded the final out of the World Series covering first base, giving his A's a World Series Championship over the Giants.

"That was the ultimate moment for me," he said. "And to do it against the Giants, in my hometown, man you can't write that stuff."

In a final bit of symmetry to Eckersely's life and career, Simmons will also be honored on Sunday, receiving the Frick Award for broadcasting excellence.

"When I heard that I couldn't believe it," Eckersely said.

Just another great coincidence in a life full of them for "Eck."

Paul Molitor

Paul Molitor grew up just five blocks from another future Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, in St. Paul Minnesota. Like Winfield, Molitor went on to star in the Major Leagues for a number of years before coming back to play for the Minnesota Twins late in his career, where both collected the 3,000th base hits of their careers.

"The similarities are kind of eerie when you think about it," Molitor said.

Molitor carved a Hall of Fame career by doing every aspect of baseball well. He seemingly always hit over .300, he stole bases, he bunted, he played solid defense.

"He has terrific baseball instincts. If Paul Molitor has a weakness, I don't know what it is," said Milwaukee Brewers general manager Harry Dalton of Molitor early in his career with the Brewers.

Molitor broke in with Milwaukee in 1978, and quickly formed a tremendous offensive and defensive combination with incumbent shortstop Robin Yount. Yount was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1999, and he and Molitor are the only Brewers' players in the Hall of Fame.

Over 20 plus seasons Molitor is the only player in baseball history to accumulate over 3,000 hits, 200 home runs and 500 stolen bases during his career.

"I think respect comes from winning, and that's the only thing I'm concerned about as a player," Molitor once said.

Molitor, nicknamed "The Ignitor" was such an intense competitor he even amazed his Brewers teammates,

"He's my hero, he really is," said Brewers first baseman Cecil Cooper. "If you watch him during a game, he'll always do something small to help us win. Whether it's advancing a runner, bunting, stealing a base, whatever needs to be done, he'll do it."

Molitor's career statistics are even more amazing considering he lost nearly 600 games, or close to four seasons, due to various injuries. Because of his injuries, Molitor spent much of his career as a designated hitter.

Molitor, who ended his career with 3,319 hits, helped lead the Brewers to the World Series in 1982, after coming back from an 0-2 deficit to win three straight games against the California Angels.

"To see (Milwaukee's) County Stadium just almost explode with excitement after we beat the Angels is one of my number one highlights," Molitor said during an orientation visit to the Hall of Fame in April. "But winning the World Series in '93 with Toronto (in six games over the Philadelphia Phillies) has to be the number one highlight. I played 21 seasons and only stood in the winner's circle one time."

Molitor, now a hitting coach with the Seattle Mariners, was at his best when it mattered the most, hitting .500 against the Phillies while setting records for a six game series in hits (12); runs (10); triples (2); extra base hits (6); and average (.500). Molitor was 12-24 in that Series after going 11-31 (.355) in the '82 Series against the Cardinals, which the Brewers lost in seven games. In all, Molitor hit .368 in 29 postseason games.

Molitor, whom Ted Williams once compared to none other than Joe DiMaggio, threatened DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1987 with a 39-game streak of his own, the fifth longest in major league baseball history.