- Rod Beck
Infobox MLB retired
name=Rod Beck
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1968|8|3Burbank, California
deathdate=death date and age|2007|6|23|1968|8|3Phoenix, Arizona
debutdate=May 6
debutyear=by|1991
debutteam=San Francisco Giants
finaldate=August 14
finalyear=by|2004
finalteam=San Diego Padres
stat1label=Games pitched
stat1value=704
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.30
stat3label=Saves
stat3value=286
teams=
*San Francisco Giants (by|1991-by|1997)
*Chicago Cubs (by|1998-by|1999)
*Boston Red Sox (by|1999-by|2001)
*San Diego Padres (by|2003-by|2004)
highlights=
* 3x All-Star selection (1993, 1994, 1997)
* 1994NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Rodney Roy Beck (
August 3 1968 –June 23 2007 Haller, Doug, and Fehr-Snyder, Kerry. [http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0624beck-ON.html Ex-Giants star reliever Beck dies at 38] . "The Arizona Republic ".June 24 2007 .] ) was an Americanrelief pitcher inMajor League Baseball who played for theSan Francisco Giants (by|1991-by|1997),Chicago Cubs (by|1998-by|1999),Boston Red Sox (by|1999-by|2001) andSan Diego Padres (by|2003-by|2004). He batted and threwright handed .Career
an Francisco Giants
The
Oakland Athletics drafted Rod Beck as a starting pitcher in the 13th round (327th pick) of the by|1986 MLB Amateur Draft. In by|1989, while with theSan Jose Giants of theCalifornia League [ [http://www.sjgiants.com/ArDisplay.aspx?ID=83&SecID=27 San Jose Giants] ] , he posted a record of 11-2 between opening day andJune 13 th when he was promoted to theShreveport Captains of the Double ATexas League . Rod made his Major League debut onMay 6 , 1991, versus theMontreal Expos . His performance was forgettable, (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER), but his season numbers were more impressive. He had a 3.78 ERA; pitched 52⅓ innings in 31 games; struck out 38 & walked 13. In by|1992, Rod took over as the regular closer fromDave Righetti and posted a record of 3-3 with 17 saves and a 1.76 ERA. He pitched 92 innings over 65 games and struck out 87 while walking only 15. Beck's best season was in by|1993 [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txbeckobit&prov=st&type=lgns Report: Former MLB pitcher Rod Beck dies] ] , when he recorded 48 saves, including a then-record 24 straight for the Giants.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 . Beck set a career high in saves in his first season with the Cubs, converting 51 of 58 chances. However, in the 1999 season, Beck battled injury, and was traded by Chicago to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for relieverMark Guthrie and a player to be named later, who turned out to beCole Liniak [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/guthrma01.shtml Mark Guthrie Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ] .Boston Red Sox
Beck pitched well for the surging Red Sox, although he struggled in the postseason (giving up a
Bernie Williams walkoff home run in Game One of the1999 ALCS ) and wasn't as good as he had been in the past in his two full seasons with the team. After the 2001 season, Beck hadTommy John surgery . Beck successfully recovered from Tommy John surgery and floated around in the minors before being signed by the Cubs. While pitching for the team's AAA affiliateIowa Cubs during his comeback, Beck gained national attention for living in a mobile home behind the team's Sec Taylor Stadium (nowPrincipal Park ) inDes Moines . Beck warmly welcomed fans to drop by and visit, use his restroom, and drink ice cold Coors Light from his refrigerator [ [http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2003/0515/1554407.html Trailer Bash: Rod Beck's Life in the Minors] ] . He was later traded to the San Diego Padres.an Diego Padres
In 2003, Beck returned to the Major Leagues with the Padres, filling in for the injured
Trevor Hoffman . Rod Beck converted 20 saves in 20 chances, while posting a 1.78 ERA. His statistics earned him the National League Comeback Player of the year award. In 2004, Beck dealt with personal problems duringSpring Training and struggled in a seventh inning role for the Padres. Beck was released by San Diego in August.Life after baseball
Rod Beck dabbled in acting and took a role in the forthcoming movie "
Work Week " as the character Reggie. The movie is currently in post-production, awaiting its release. [cite web| title = Rod Beck| work = Internet Movie Database| url = http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1763281/| accessdate = 2008-07-02]Alternative rock groupStroke 9 released a song entitled "Rod Beck" on its 2004 album "All In."Death
On
June 23 , by|2007, Beck died alone at his home inPhoenix, Arizona [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2914994 Rod Beck Dead at 38] . ESPN.com news services.ESPN.com .June 24 2007 .] . While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Phoenix police do not suspect foul play;cocaine was found in his home and bedroom. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2956394 ESPN - Police found cocaine in several places at Rod Beck's home - MLB ] ] Beck was buried in his Chicago Cubs uniform [ [http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2007/07/ex-cub-week-in-.html Hardball | ChicagoSports | Blog ] ] . Beck's name was added to the by|2008 ballot for theBaseball Hall of Fame , waiving the normal five-year period before eligibility, however he only received two votes. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof08/news/story?id=3186626 ESPN - Gossage voted into baseball Hall; Rice just misses - MLB ] ]ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders References
External links
*
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Beck_Rod.stm BaseballLibrary.com] - biography
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2003-07-29-tommy-john-three-pitchers_x.htm USA Today article about Beck's experience with Tommy John surgery]Persondata
NAME=Beck, Rodney Roy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Major League Baseball pitcher
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH=August 3 ,1968
PLACE OF BIRTH=Burbank, California ,United States
DATE OF DEATH=June 23 ,2007
PLACE OF DEATH=Phoenix, Arizona ,United States
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