The Associated Press

NEW YORK - In their final confrontation, Paul Molitor wanted to beat Dennis Eckersley so badly he bunted in the ninth inning to win a game that was meaningless to the Minnesota Twins.

When they see each other this summer, they'll be going into the Hall of Fame together.

The two tough competitors were chosen Tuesday in their first year of eligibility, the only players to gain election. And they thought back to that night at the Metrodome in August 1998.

"I was 43 years old," Eckersley recalled with a laugh. "He dropped down a bunt and, guess what, it worked. He's a little weasel, that's what he is."

Molitor turned 42 that night, and his single gave the Twins a 4-3 win over Boston, which was vying for the AL wild card. Eckersley had a few choice words for Molitor that night. But the two always had great respect for each other.

"He had a way of being unpredictable," Molitor said. "He could throw any pitch at any time, which added to his effectiveness."

Molitor is eighth on the career list with 3,319 hits, many in clutch situations. He was picked on 431 of 506 ballots (85.2 percent) cast by reporters who have been members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for 10 or more years.

Eckersley, among baseball's most exuberant and colorful players, was selected on 421 ballots (83.2 percent).

To gain election, a player must be chosen by at least 75 percent of the voters (380).

Ryne Sandberg was third with 309 votes, 61.1 percent, up from 49.2 last year. He was followed by Bruce Sutter (301), Jim Rice (276), Andre Dawson (253), Rich Gossage (206), Lee Smith (185) and Bert Blyleven (179).

Molitor, Seattle's hitting coach, became the first player elected to the Hall who spent more games at designated hitter than at any other position.

Molitor was a seven-time All-Star who played from 1978-98 with Milwaukee, Toronto and Minnesota, and he was the Blue Jays' World Series MVP in 1993. He was primarily a DH in his final six seasons.

Eckersley, 49, joins Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers as the only pitchers who were primarily relievers elected to the Hall by the BBWAA. The six-time All-Star went 149-130 with a 3.71 in 361 starts, winning 20 games for Boston in 1978 and throwing a no-hitter for Cleveland against the Angels in 1977.

In all, Eckersley went 197-171 in 24 seasons with 390 saves, third behind Lee Smith (478) and John Franco (424).

DIAMONDBACKS: Twelve-time All-Star Roberto Alomar agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with Arizona, saying he turned down higher offers for the chance to play with a contender. Alomar earned $8 million in 2003, the final season of a deal he signed with Cleveland in 1998 that was worth $37 million over five years.

PADRES: Jeff Cirillo became a $6.6 million "super utility" infielder for the San Diego Padres after they completed a six-player trade with the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

The deal came less than three weeks after Cirillo blocked a trade to the New York Mets, saying he'd rather come off the bench for the Mariners than have an uncertain role with an East Coast team.

The Padres also acquired right-handed pitcher Brian Sweeney and $4,775,000, payable in 2005, in exchange for right-hander Kevin Jarvis, catcher Wiki Gonzalez, infielder Dave Hansen and minor-league outfielder Vince Faison.

McGRAW SERVICES: Tug McGraw's family will honor him at a private service Saturday.

McGraw, one of baseball's most colorful relievers, died Monday at age 59 after battling brain cancer. McGraw helped the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies win their first World Series titles.

ANGELS: Reliever Derrick Turnbow, the first major-leaguer to test positive for a banned steroid, faces a two-year ban from international competition but will not face any Major League Baseball sanctions.

Turnbow, a right-hander with a 98 mph fastball, went 2-0 with 15 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings after a Sept. 1 callup from the minors last season. He flunked the drug test during a U.S. Olympic training camp in October.

• Leon Wagner, a former outfielder who hit 211 home runs in a 12-year big-league career, died Saturday. He was 69.

ROYALS: Two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzalez agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees him $4.5 million.

DEVIL RAYS: Closer Danys Baez finalized a $6.5 million, two-year contract.

In three seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Baez went 17-23 with a 3.92 ERA and 31 saves but never felt he truly found his niche while bouncing between the bullpen and starting rotation.

DODGERS: Bubba Trammell, who played in only 22 games last season before leaving the New York Yankees for personal reasons, agreed Tuesday to a $1.85 million, one-year contract with Los Angeles.

REDS: The Reds named Rick Burleson manager, Mack Jenkins pitching coach, Adrian "Smokey" Garrett hitting coach and Jeff Young coach at Triple-A Louisville.

EXPOS: Shortstop Orlando Cabrera agreed to a $6 million, one-year contract with Montreal.