Red Sox fans have been lucky to know Dennis Eckersley for a long time. First, of course, through two stints as a pitcher (1978-84, then a career-capping Boston coda in 1998) during a 24-year playing career that culminated with enshrinement in Cooperstown. Then, since 2003, as an analyst who conveyed incisive thoughts with his own distinctive lingo on NESN’s Red Sox broadcasts. Now, Eckersley has decided it’s time to focus on a different role, and to make sure two people in particular will know him well. Eckersley is retiring from the NESN booth at season’s end. His last broadcast will be Oct. 5, the regular-season finale. He and his wife, Jennifer, are moving to his native California in October so he can spend as much time as possible with his twin grandchildren, who will turn 4 years old that month. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, I really have,” said Eckersley, who turns 68 in October. “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.” Click the link in bio for the full story 📸 #1 Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff #2 Barry Chin/Globe Staff #3 John Tlumacki/Globe Staff #4 Globe Photo by Rachel Ritchie #5 Jonathan Wiggs/ Globe Staff