Baseball Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley told the Boston Globe that he plans to retire from his position as a color commentator for New England Sports Network's Boston Red Sox broadcasts at the end of the season.

Eckersley, 67, who has worked for NESN since 2003, said he's mulled retirement for a long time, but said he ultimately decided he wants to move back to the Bay Area to be closer to his grandchildren during their formative years.

The Red Sox will play their final regular-season game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on October 5.

"I've been thinking about this for a long time. I really have," Eckersley told the Globe via NBC Boston. "Not that it matters, but it's kind of a round number, leaving. I started in pro ball in '72, when I was a 17-year-old kid right out of high school. Fifty years ago. And I've been with NESN for 20 years, even though it doesn't feel like that because I didn't do much my first four or five years. So it's time."

Eckersley was elected as a first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher in 2004 with 82.2% approval, having played 24 seasons for five MLB teams, most notably the Red Sox (1978-84; 1998) and Oakland Athletics (1987-95), which included winning the 1992 American League MVP, 1992 AL Cy Young Award, two AL Rolaids Relief Man Awards (1988, 1992) and two seasons as the MLB saves leader (1988, 1992).

Colin Cowherd Makes His Five Biggest Guarantees For the Upcoming NFL Season

Colin Cowherd Says 'Creepy' Deshaun Watson Should Get 12-Game Suspension

Chris Broussard: Tom Brady Should Also Be Suspended For Dolphins' Tampering

Brady Quinn Disputes Warren Moon's Racism Claims on Kyler Murray Clause

Doug Gottlieb Says 'Over the Hill' Draymond Green is Not Worth a Max Deal

Jason Smith on Kyler Murray Extension: 'I Hate When Lazy People Succeed'

Rob Parker on Trey Lance Starting: 'Niners Have No Clue What They're Doing'

Plaxico Burress Says Prejudice is Hurting Lamar Jackson Getting a New Deal

Ben Maller: Kyler Murray Robbed the Cardinals of $230.5 Million

Clay Travis Calls Out the Hypocrisy of LeBron Calling Boston Fans 'Racist'

Interviews