Glenn Beckert

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Glenn Beckert
Glenn Beckert 1973.jpg
Beckert in 1973
Second baseman
Born: (1940-10-12)October 12, 1940
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died: April 12, 2020(2020-04-12) (aged 79)
Englewood, Florida
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 12, 1965, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
April 27, 1975, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
Batting average.283
Home runs22
Runs batted in360
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Glenn Alfred Beckert (October 12, 1940 – April 12, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for nine seasons from 1965 to 1973, before ending his career with the San Diego Padres in 1975.[1][2] He was a four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove Award winner.

Baseball career[]

Beckert attended Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was named All-City in baseball and basketball, and graduated in 1958. He attended Allegheny College, where he played college baseball, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1962.[3]

Beckert, circa 1967

The Boston Red Sox signed Beckert as an amateur free agent in 1962, and that year he was selected by the Chicago Cubs from Red Sox in the first-year minor league draft.[4] He spent three years in the minors as a shortstop, where he led the Pacific Coast League in putouts and assists in 1964.[5]

Following the sudden death of Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs in 1964, the Cubs brought Beckert to the major leagues as their second baseman for the 1965 season.[5] Beckert played nine seasons as the Cubs' second baseman.[1] During his entire Cub tenure, he played alongside shortstop Don Kessinger.[5] Beckert led the National League in assists during his rookie year.[1] He was a tough batter, leading the league five times in fewest strikeouts per at bats.[5]

In 1968, Beckert led the league in runs scored. He also won the National League's Gold Glove Award for second baseman,[6][7] ending Bill Mazeroski's run of five consecutive Gold Glove Awards. In 1969, he was chosen for his first of four consecutive All-Star Games.[8] He had his best offensive season in 1971 when he hit for a career-high .342 batting average[9] to finish third in the National League batting championship behind Joe Torre and Ralph Garr.[10]

After the 1973 season, the Cubs traded Beckert along with Bobby Fenwick to the San Diego Padres for Jerry Morales.[4] Beckert was a utility infielder and pinch hitter with the Padres before being released in May 1975.[11] He is an inductee in the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.[12]

Career statistics[]

In an 11-year career, Beckert played in 1,320 games, accumulating 1,473 hits in 5,208 at bats for a .283 career batting average along with 22 home runs and 360 runs batted in. He posted a .973 career fielding percentage.[1]

Personal life[]

Beckert married Mary Marshall, a flight attendant, in November 1967.[3]

Beckert died on April 12, 2020.[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Glenn Beckert Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ Inc., Baseball Almanac. "Glenn Beckert Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
  3. ^ a b Sternman, Mark. "Glenn Beckert". Society of American Baseball Research. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Inc., Baseball Almanac. "Glenn Beckert Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
  5. ^ a b c d "Home". BASEBALL LIBRARY. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
  6. ^ "1968 National League Batting Leaders - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "MLB National League Gold Glove Award Winners - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Pittsburgh native, 4-time MLB All-Star second baseman Glenn Beckert dies at 79 | TribLIVE.com". triblive.com.
  9. ^ "Who was the greatest Cubs second baseman?". chicagotribune.com.
  10. ^ "1971 National League Batting Leaders - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "Padres Release Vetern Beckert". The Pittsburgh Press. May 2, 1975. p. 26. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "Hall of Fame". Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Paul (April 12, 2020). "Glenn Beckert, an All-Star second baseman and Gold Glove winner for the Chicago Cubs, dies". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.

External links[]

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