In my thinking, only Eckersley challenges Rivera for the best closer of all time.

Eckersley is probably the better pitcher, in that he was a converted starter, but in judging their abilities as closers, I have to grudgingly have to put the pin-striped ogre Rivera in front.

Eckersley was not only had great stuff, he had a lot of deceptive stuff, and was a master at getting in batter's heads.

He also seemed mentally untouchable, shrugging off the occasional titanic dingers he gave up to lose a game (most memorably Kirk Gibson in the '88 series) and coming back to bear down harder next time.

If not the best, one of a handfull.

He was the best in the golden age of the closer. Some threw harder but none had Eck's savvy and that split finger pitch just rolled off the table. His numbers from the 1991 season will never be matched though it was a year later that Roberto Alomar managed to slay the dragon-like Eckersley mystique with one swing of the bat

Hall of Famer in every aspect. Recovering alcoholic. Twenty game winner. No Hit game. Lights out stopper