Pitcher Rod Beck found dead at home

[catlover79]

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Rod Beck, an All-Star relief pitcher who notched 286 saves during a 13-year Major League Baseball career, has been found dead at his Phoenix home, police said on Sunday.

An investigation by the county medical examiner to determine the cause of Beck's death could take "a number of days," according to police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill, who added that foul play is not suspected.

Beck, 38, a three time All-Star, recorded 51 saves for the Chicago Cubs in 1998 but only notched 36 saves over the next six seasons.

He also pitched for the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox, before finishing his career with the San Diego Padres in 2004.

Beck, who sported a long mustache, was excitable on the mound and earned the nickname "Shooter."

Off the field, Beck was known to have wrestled with drug problems and went into rehabilitation during his last year in professional baseball.

Hill said that police were called to Beck's home in a Phoenix suburbs on Saturday.

Hill said his identity was not released until Sunday, pending notification of his two children who were away at summer camp.



I remember him very well, and am sorry to hear this news. My heart goes out to his loved ones.