Beck found dead at age 38 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 06-24-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Sunday, June 24, 2007
Beck found dead at age 38

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Rod Beck, a relief pitcher who wore a bushy mustache while earning 286 career saves, was found dead Saturday. He was 38.

Rod Beck was second all-time on the Giants' career saves list.

Beck was found by police officers responding to a call to his home in suburban Phoenix, according to police department spokesman Andy Hill. Foul play is not suspected, though the cause of death might not be known for several days.

With long hair framing a menacing stare and an aggressive arm swing before delivering a pitch, the outgoing right-hander was a memorable baseball personality and a three-time All-Star who twice led the NL in saves. He spent the first seven of his 13 major league season with the San Francisco Giants.

Beck was popular with his teammates, reporters and fans, but battled personal demons late in his life. He abruptly left the San Diego Padres for a two-month stint in drug rehabilitation during his final season in 2004.

"He was having some problems, and I just knew he went into rehab and joined us later that year," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, the Padres' manager at the time. "It's so sad when you see healthy players go at such a young age. This is a bad day in baseball to lose a guy who did so much for the game."

Nicknamed "Shooter," Beck played for the Giants (1991-97), the Chicago Cubs (1998-99) and the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001) before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-04). Beck reportedly was living in a camper behind the Iowa Cubs' center-field fence when San Diego called.

"He was the utmost professional whose love for the game was only overshadowed by his passion for his family. Rod was the guy who you wanted in the foxhole with you, a warrior on the field and a teddy bear at home. All who knew him loved him, and more importantly respected him," Beck's longtime agent, Rick Thurman, said in a statement.

Beck led the majors in saves in 1993, when he set the Giants' single-season record with 48. He was San Francisco's career saves leader with 199 until Robb Nen passed him in 2002.

Beck led the majors again in 1998 with 51 saves for Chicago, helping the Cubs win the NL wild card. He had a career record of 38-45 in 704 games, with a 3.30 ERA.

"He was a great teammate and a great competitor," said Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia, who played his first three major league seasons with Beck in San Francisco. "He left an impression on everybody he played with. You talk to everybody, they'll have nothing but good things to say. He's somebody that Giants fans will always remember."

Aurilia recalled being wary of Beck's mustache and mullet when he came up as a rookie in 1995 -- but Beck was among the first to congratulate Aurilia on making the team.

Beck was a favorite at Candlestick Park through most of the 1990s, but left to sign with the Cubs as a free agent in 1998. He saved 51 games in his first season in Chicago, but managed just 46 saves in his final five seasons combined.

The Associated Press contributed

I'm not really interested in baseball, but I just read this in the paper. I played little league with this bloke in San Fernando Valley, CA in the late 70's. He as a nice kid, and my cousin stayed good friends with him since he lived down the street from him as we all grew up.

As Verbal said in Usual Suspects.. "And like that... he is gone."

Cross-Over · 06-24-2007, 02:38 PM

It is a damn shame that he died so young. If indeed there was not foul play as they have assumed, I am guessing it was a stroke or a heart attack. Sure, he was a bit overweight, but even if he smoked, drank heavily, and ate like shit too; dying at 38 from a stroke or heart attack is abnormal.

I rooted like hell against Beck and the Giants in 1993 due to the amazing division chase that year, but Beck seemed like a genuine great guy.

It is sad times for his family and friends.

The_Jazz · 06-24-2007, 03:42 PM

I met Beck in 98 (I think) at a bar called Redmond's a couple of blocks away from Wrigley. He came in a little after us, noticed a friend of mine and came over to meet her.

He made quite an impression on all of us. He was larger than life that night, and the 5 or 6 of us there that night left feeling like he was one of us. Granted we never saw him again, but that was a fun night.

guy44 · 06-25-2007, 08:14 PM

Man, some of my fondest high school memories are of rushing home on the El to catch the last inning or two of those Cubbie weekday day games. It seemed like every time I'd get home for one of those games in 1998, Shooter was on the mound, somehow saving 51 games with a huge beer gut and that right arm dangling from his body before each pitch. I swear, the way he pitched almost every day that summer, I thought his arm was dangling 'cause it was about to fall off!

I also remember one of my favorite baseball quotes ever: when a reporter was questioning him over his, er, weight problem, he said something to the effect of, "You always hear about guys pulling a calf muscle or hamstring. You've never heard of a guy with pulled fat!"

RIP.

djtestudo · 06-28-2007, 08:52 PM

I always liked Rod Beck. It's a real shame that this happened to him, especially at such a young age.

06-24-2007, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	I met Beck in 98 (I think) at a bar called Redmond's a couple of blocks away from Wrigley. He came in a little after us, noticed a friend of mine and came over to meet her. He made quite an impression on all of us. He was larger than life that night, and the 5 or 6 of us there that night left feeling like he was one of us. Granted we never saw him again, but that was a fun night. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

06-25-2007, 08:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
guy44 Somnabulist Location: corner of No and Where	Man, some of my fondest high school memories are of rushing home on the El to catch the last inning or two of those Cubbie weekday day games. It seemed like every time I'd get home for one of those games in 1998, Shooter was on the mound, somehow saving 51 games with a huge beer gut and that right arm dangling from his body before each pitch. I swear, the way he pitched almost every day that summer, I thought his arm was dangling 'cause it was about to fall off! I also remember one of my favorite baseball quotes ever: when a reporter was questioning him over his, er, weight problem, he said something to the effect of, "You always hear about guys pulling a calf muscle or hamstring. You've never heard of a guy with pulled fat!" RIP. __________________ "You have reached Ritual Sacrifice. For goats press one, or say 'goats.'"

06-28-2007, 08:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	I always liked Rod Beck. It's a real shame that this happened to him, especially at such a young age. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

06-24-2007, 02:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cross-Over Psycho	It is a damn shame that he died so young. If indeed there was not foul play as they have assumed, I am guessing it was a stroke or a heart attack. Sure, he was a bit overweight, but even if he smoked, drank heavily, and ate like shit too; dying at 38 from a stroke or heart attack is abnormal. I rooted like hell against Beck and the Giants in 1993 due to the amazing division chase that year, but Beck seemed like a genuine great guy. It is sad times for his family and friends.