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Loss of Shooter felt throughout AT&T
By Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin June 24, 2007 |
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SAN FRANCISCO--He was only 38 and his death came quickly as Phoenix Police and the coroners try to figure out how former San Francisco Giant pitcher Rod Beck, known as “Shooter” died at his home on Sunday. Fans at AT&T were silent before the game after the announcement of the loss of the former reliever who pitched for the Cubs and Red Sox as well. Beck played the bulk of his career in San Francisco (1991-97) then was dealt to the Chicago Cubs where he played there from (1998-99) when Beck was dealt after being such a fan favorite at the end of the 1997 fans were actually shocked and disappointed. Beck was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 13th round in the 1986 amature draft and then was traded to the Giants organization. In 1988, Beck was traded to the Giants and in the spring of 1989, Beck started for the San Jose Giants, the Single A affiliate in San Jose, and Beck went 11-2 in the 13 games he started for San Jose, and also threw four complete games, and helped San Jose win their first half championship of the California League. In mid-June, Beck was then called up to Shreveport to the Giants Double-A team. After a stint in Phoenix, the Giants Triple-A affiliate, Beck was then called up to the show, and made his Beck made his big league debut with the Giants on May 6, 1991, in a game against the Montreal Expos, in Montreal. Beck pitched two innings in relief, gave up three hits, and two runs in his first major league appearance. Beck was a generous man with the fans and the media. His teammates loved him and he was a popular figure. Even after a blown save while the Giants closer during those years Beck would always stop at his locker, sit down at his stool, and talk with the media. He talked about a pitch that got away, or how it might have been the right pitch but the hitter was able to see it and hit it. Then there were those good times when he was able to close the door and throw strikes and make his pitches go where their commanded to. Beck pitched for the Red Sox too (1999-2001) and closed his career with the San Diego Padres from (2003-04). Beck's popularity ranged from the different stories that people like to tell. There are so many of them that we can't cover all of them in this column but Beck always stopped at the gates of the players lot at Candlestick Park when he pitched for the Giants and signed for the fans, he also talked about his motorcycle and was inquisitive about the fans interests and he asked them about it. Beck was unlike most players who would come play and leave. He was always there to talk with reporters and made people feel very comfortable when the reporters asked questions and never got surly with us. On the mound, you would never know he was the softy off the field. He was intimidating with the long locks coming from under his cap, his intimidating stare at the signs he would get from the catcher and he wound up and fired some mean rockets to close games. "He was a great teammate and a great competitor; 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", said Rich Aurilla who played with Beck in his first three seasons in the majors. One great story told about Beck was when he was pitching in minor league ball trying to get back to the majors in 2003, at Triple AAA Iowa. Beck would park his Winnebago outside of the outfield fence at the park and fans would come over and talk to Beck, ask him about trying to get back to the show, they'd share a beer, and he's sign autographs. Rod Beck was truly the model of the player of the throwback years when players of that day would stop and sign autographs and talk with the fans and media for awhile. Giants owner Peter Magowan summed it up best on Sunday at the ball park saying, "Everyone in the Giants organization is deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend. Rod Beck was a true Giant in every sense of the word, from his dedication on the field to his selflessness away from the park." Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin co-host Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. quote source:AP |
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