Rod Beck
Rod Beck | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Burbank, California, U.S. | August 3, 1968|
Died: June 23, 2007 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | (aged 38)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 6, 1991, for the San Francisco Giants | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 14, 2004, for the San Diego Padres | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 38–45 |
Earned run average | 3.30 |
Strikeouts | 644 |
Saves | 286 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Rodney Roy Beck (August 3, 1968 – June 23, 2007
Career
San Francisco Giants
The
Beck made his
September 18, 1997
On September 17 and 18, 1997, the Los Angeles Dodgers came to San Francisco to play a two-game series at Candlestick Park.[10] The Dodgers were leading the National League West with a record of 84–67. The Giants were in 2nd place with a record of 82–69; 2 games behind.[11] The Giants won the first game 2–1 behind lefty Kirk Rueter. In that contest, Barry Bonds hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Giants, while Raúl Mondesí hit a solo shot in the fifth for the Dodgers. Beck did not pitch in the game.[12]
On September 18, he came into the game in the top of the 10th with the score tied 5–5.
Baker left Beck in, and Beck proceeded to strike out Todd Zeile looking at an inside-corner fastball. When he got pinch hitter Eddie Murray to bounce a splitter into an inning-ending double play, the crowd of 52,188 went crazy. Two innings later, Giants reserve catcher Brian Johnson led off with a home run to left field, giving Beck a 6–5 win. The Giants, now tied with the Dodgers for the division lead,[13] would go on to win the Western Division crown.[14]
Chicago Cubs
After the 1997 season, the Giants felt Beck's best years were behind him, and allowed him to leave as a free agent to sign with the Chicago Cubs, replacing him with Robb Nen.[18] Beck set a career high in saves in 1998, his first season with the Cubs, converting 51 of 58 chances.[2] However, in the 1999 season, Beck battled injury, and was traded by Chicago to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for reliever Mark Guthrie and a player to be named later,[19] who turned out to be Cole Liniak.[20]
Boston Red Sox
Beck pitched well for the surging Red Sox, although he struggled in the postseason, giving up a
Beck to the Minors
Beck successfully recovered from
San Diego Padres
Immediately after leaving the Cubs in 2003, Beck returned to the Major Leagues with the Padres
Death
On June 23, 2007, Beck died alone at his home in Phoenix, Arizona.[1][27] The Maricopa County medical examiner did not publicly disclose the cause of death and the Phoenix police did not suspect foul play.[1] Beck's ex-wife stated she believed Beck's death to be drug related.[28] Cocaine and heroin were found in his home and bedroom.[29]
Beck was buried in Phoenix wearing his Chicago Cubs uniform.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Haller, Doug; Fehr-Snyder, Kerry (June 24, 2007). "Ex-closer Beck dies at 38". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Rod Beck Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ "1986 MLB Draft History – Round 13". myMLBdraft.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ "Rod Beck Minor League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ Lampe, Chris R. (July 8, 2007). "Thirteen Games to Stardom: Memories of Rod Beck". SJ Giants Fans. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ "Expos 10, Giants 4". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ "1992 San Francisco Giants: Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on September 14, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ^ "Rod Beck". Baseballbiography.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ISBN 9780743261586. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ "1997 Los Angeles Dodgers Schedule". Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on December 30, 2002. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants September 17, 1997, Box Score". Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "San Francisco Giants 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 5". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "1997 San Francisco Giants: Schedule, Box Scores and Splits". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves September 15, 1997, Box Score". Baseball Almanac. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Schulman, Henry (September 19, 1997). "Sweeping Giants wake". The San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
- ^ Ratto, Ray (September 19, 1997). "Baseball as you always hope it will be". The San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
- ^ "It Takes One to Know One". Contra Costa Times Archives. August 24, 1999. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Armour, Nancy (September 1, 1999). "Sox Get Closer Beck from Cubs: Boston Preps for Pennant Drive". Bangor Daily News. The Associated Press. p. C6. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Mark Guthrie Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Walk-Offs in the Post Season". Yankee Numbers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Beaton, Rod (July 29, 2003). "Pitchers at different stages". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Drehs, Wayne. "The place to go where no one knows your name". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ^ Leshanski, Jonathan (November 26, 2003). "Postmortem: The San Diego Padres". At Home Plate. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Pujols, A-Rod named top players by their peers". SI.com. November 5, 2003. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Pitcher attending to personal problem". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Rod Beck Dead at 38 Archived June 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. ESPN.com news services. ESPN.com. June 24, 2007.
- ^ Kiefer, Michael (August 1, 2007). "Ex-wife says cocaine habit killed baseball star". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 30, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Report: Police found cocaine in home of Rod Beck". ESPN.com. July 31, 2007. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
- ^ Sullivan, Paul (July 2, 2007). "Ex-Cub week in review". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ^ "BBWAA Election Rules". Baseball Writers' Association of America. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
- ^ "Gossage voted into baseball Hall; Rice just misses". ESPN. January 8, 2008. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- ChicagoCubsOnline.com coverage Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at 2007 Cubs Convention
- Rod Beck at Baseballbiography.com
- Rod Beck at Find a Grave