NEW YORK (AP) — 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. Not to mention he could throw it to a teacup.”

Molitor, a patient, proficient batter, 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).