I know this is old news but Rod Beck's death happened while I was away and unable to post anything. I would like to say thanks for all the great moments he gave us all and my deepest condolensces and sympathy to his wife and daughters.
Rod Beck (1968-2007)
My first memory of Rob Beck is when we picked him up in a trade with the A's. I think he was only in A-ball but he had such great stats that I had to wonder what's wrong with him, why did they give him up for a nobody prospect that we gave them. But back then I was still pretty naive about good stats in the lower minors and had great hopes for him immediately.
Unlike other flops, he continued to move up the farm system until I thought he was going into our sorry rotation and boost it up. Instead, he was brought up as a reliever, because the thought was that he would not last as a reliever with the shape his body was in. And he did well enough to stick, then basically took over the closer job the next year when he pitched great.
He was our premier closer until he became a free agent and his agent decided to try to squeeze the Giants with a pretty outlandish contract demand. Sabean, as he first showed here and in subsequent attempts to squeeze him, went out and found a replacement (Nen) and moved on, leaving the free agent scrambling and on his heels. Beck ended up signing with the Cubs and having a great year with 51 saves, but that was his final great season as a closer, he never saved more than 20 games after that, saving 20 in his second to last season of his career, in 2003, subbing for an injured Trevor Hoffman for the 'Dres.
He was probably like this all through his career, but late in his career, while pitching in the minors, he sealed his reputation as an everyman and made a legend of himself by parking his mobile home behind the park and he would shoot the breeze with anybody who wanted to come by and have a brewski with him.
He was one of only a few pitchers who ever wore the Giants uniform to win a place in my heart, mainly because we never really had that many good pitchers all those years ago. Him, John the Count Montefusco, Kirk Rueter, Jason Schmidt (until he admitted his love for D-ger Blue), and now Cain and Lincecum. There was something about him that drew me (and others) to him.
Rod Beck, Shooter, too young to die at 38. To an original, may he rest in peace, with a brewski always in his hand.
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