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Doug Haller and Kerry Fehr-Snyder
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 24, 2007 12:28 PM
Former baseball relief pitcher Rod Beck died Saturday at his home in northeast Phoenix. He was 38.
Beck played 13 years in the major leagues, seven with the San Francisco Giants, who base their spring-training camp in Scottsdale.
“He was kind of a throw back, a real blue collar guy who his way up and worked hard,” said Beck’s longtime agent Rick Thurman. “He was the kind of guy you wanted to have in a foxhole in with you. “But he was a real teddy bear at home. He was a great guy, really unbelievably great.”<!-- BOXAD TABLE --> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="10"> <tbody><tr> <td style="color: gray;" align="center" valign="top">
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Neither Thurman nor Phoenix police disclosed the cause of the death.
Beck had two daughters, both of whom were at a camp in California and were being told about their father’s death in person by their mother.
Beck was born and raised in California but had settled in Arizona after his professional career ended three years ago.
In 1993, at age 24, Beck developed into one of the game's best closers, saving 48 games for the Giants and finishing 12th in the National League Most Valuable Player balloting.
In 1998, Beck signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Cubs and made an immediate impact. In his first season, he posted a career-best 51 saves, tied for eighth best all time.
A three-time All-Star, Beck finished his career with short stints with the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. He retired in 2004 with 286 saves, 21st on the all-time list.
Beck died at his home at 5900 block of East Ludlow Drive. Phoenix Police are investigating because Beck was alone at the time of his death, but no foul play is expected.
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