The Passing of Shooter

Rod Beck passed away today at the young age of 38. That age is not a misprint. He pitched mainly for the the Giants but in the magical year of 1998, Kerry Wood 20k game, Sammy 66 hrs, and the wild card, Beck saved 51 games. He was not flashy he threw a mid range fast ball that dare major league batters to hit it.


I have a couple of fond memories of Rod Beck.

In 1998 I made a trip to L.A. in May to see the Cubs play the Dodgers. My brothers and I were sitting in the right field bleachers and before the game Shooter was standing around the warning track signing autographs down by the low outfield wall.

I asked if I can get a picture of him and he said sure. My brother took the picture and as I shook his hand and thank him a loud “WHACK” came from the Cubs bullpen. It sounded like someone was beating a leather couch with a tennis racket.

I asked Rod who is that. And Shooter said “That’s the kid, and if he doesn’t have his control tonite he’s gonna kill someone.”

The kid was Kerry Wood.

I was also at the one game playoff against the Giants and was thrilled when Shooter got Joe Carter to pop up to Grace. And the best memory I have and will alway keep is that of Rod Beck jumping for joy into Mark Grace. It was the glee of boy in summer jumping into the pool for the first time.

When I saw ESPN that night they said Beck got Carter out on a 83 mph “fastball.” Rod was gassed. Like a movie hero, who had an empty gun and a monster about to attack him, he threw the empty gun at the monster and it killed the monster.

His arm was shot and he never that effective again.

God bless your soul, Rod Beck and thank you for giving your right arm to the 1998 team. Hopefully your in a place with an endless cooler of beer and friends there to appreciate your warm smile and personality.

Here's a great ESPN story on Shooter trying to comeback in 2003 while living in an RV in the parking lot of the AAA Cubs. Can't imagine any other major leaguer being this accessible.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2003/0515/1554407.html