Joe Beckwith
Joe Beckwith | |
---|---|
Beckwith in 1979 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Opelika, Alabama, U.S. | January 28, 1955|
Died: May 22, 2021 Auburn, Alabama, U.S. | (aged 66)|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 21, 1979, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 30, 1986, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 18–19 |
Earned run average | 3.54 |
Strikeouts | 319 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Thomas Joseph Beckwith (January 28, 1955 – May 22, 2021)[1] was an American baseball pitcher who played seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals from 1979 to 1986. He threw right-handed and served primarily as a relief pitcher.
Beckwith was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 and played for two of their
Early life
Beckwith was born in Opelika, Alabama, on January 28, 1955.[2][3] His father, Bill, worked at the Auburn University in public relations and as director of ticket sales over four decades; his mother was Marjorie.[2][4] He was raised in Auburn, Alabama, and attended Auburn High School, where he played for the school team, and also served as batboy for Auburn University. He went on to study at the university, playing for the Auburn Tigers from 1974 to 1977.[2][3] In 1975 he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[5][6]
Beckwith pitched a
Career
Beckwith played three seasons in the minor leagues from 1977 to 1979.[9] He made his MLB debut on July 21, 1979, at the age of 24,[8] relieving Don Sutton and giving up two earned runs and striking out one over 2 innings in a 7–2 loss to the Montreal Expos.[10] He finished his rookie season in 1980 with a 3–3 win–loss record, a 1.96 earned run average (ERA), and 40 strikeouts over 59+2⁄3 innings pitched.[8][A]
Beckwith suffered
Beckwith won the 1985 World Series with the Royals.[13] He pitched two innings in his lone appearance in Game 4,[8][15] and was one of only two relief pitchers the Royals used during the series (the other being closer Dan Quisenberry).[16] Beckwith was subsequently released by the organization on March 28 of the following year. After signing with the Toronto Blue Jays but unable to make it onto their major league roster, he rejoined the Dodgers on July 31, 1986. He played his final major league game on September 30 that same year, at the age of 31.[8]
Later life
After retiring from baseball, Beckwith lived in Atlanta for several years before returning to Auburn.[4] He worked in the concrete industry with Ready Mix USA/CEMEX.[4][17] He also coached local youth baseball and softball. He managed the Alabama Dixie Youth team that won the state championship in 2004.[4][18] That same year, Beckwith was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame,[7] becoming the first graduate of Auburn High to be enshrined there. He was subsequently honored in Auburn's Tiger Trail Walk of Fame in 2006.[7][18]
Beckwith died on May 22, 2021. He was 66, and suffered from
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Former Auburn baseball great Joe Beckwith passes away at 66". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Auburn great Joe Beckwith passes away". Auburn Tigers. Auburn University. May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Weese, Jake (May 22, 2021). "Former Auburn pitcher Joe Beckwith passes away at 66". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Hill, Jordan D. (April 24, 2021). "Auburn honors former MLB pitcher Joe Beckwith amidst cancer battle". Dothan Eagle. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). Cape Cod Baseball. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "Managers Select Cape League Stars". Cape Cod Times. Hyannis, MA. July 13, 1975. p. 19.
- ^ a b c "Joe Beckwith". Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. August 7, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Joe Beckwith Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "Joe Beckwith Minor Leagues Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ "July 21, 1979 Montreal Expos at Los Angeles Dodgers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. July 21, 1979. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "MLB Miscellany: Rules, regulations and statistics". MLB.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Pitcher Joe Beckwith, sidelined all of last season with..." UPI. July 22, 1982. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Langill, Mark (May 23, 2021). "Former Dodger pitcher Joe Beckwith passes away at 66". Dodger Insider. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1985 World Series Game 4, Kansas City Royals at St. Louis Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 23, 1985. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ Ringolsby, Tracy (October 28, 2015). "5 storylines for Game 2 of the World Series". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ Alexander, Jackson (October 8, 2014). "Where are they now? 1985 Royals". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c Lee, Justin (May 22, 2021). "Joe Beckwith, all-Auburn baseball hero, dies at 66". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or Pura Pelota