Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Da Wrestling Board. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Baseballers of Lesser Note: Ted Beard
Topic Started: Nov 2 2011, 09:23 AM (774 Views)
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
Hallo there, and welcome to the sixteenth installment of (Professional) Baseballers of Lesser Note. In which we spotlight some of the distinguished gentlemen who have partaken in the professional gentleman's sport of baseball throughout the various eras encompassing the aforementioned sport.

This week we look at Ted Beard.

Posted Image

What'd He Do?
7 Seasons, .198 avg, 6 HR, 35 RBIs

Yeah, so?
No relation to ZZ Top's Frank, Ted Beard's career was somewhat hindered by unfortunate events. A decent prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1940's, Beard enlisted in the Army during World War II, where he served two years in the Pacific Theater as a medic. He resumed his career after The Big One, finally making his big league debut in 1948.

Okay....so?
Beard essentially became what we now call a "Quadruple A" player, shuttling between Pittsburgh and the minors. In 1950, he seemed to break through, making a case to stick in the big leagues. He displayed great speed in the outfield and had success as a top of the lineup left-handed bat, even leading the NL in runs through mid-May. But he broke his wrist while sliding and his career stalled.

Yet on July 16, 1950 he had his career highlight. In a game against the Boston Braves, he connected off pitcher Bob Hall and hit a monstrous home run over the right-field grandstand of spacious Forbes Field. At that time, the only other player to have accomplished that was Babe Ruth in his final days. For years, the blast was talked about and became something of an urban legend around the east coast.

Eventually, Willie Stargell, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Eddie Matthews also cleared right-field, but "Ted Beard" is a name that sticks out among that list.

Beard played his last game for the Bucs in 1952 and was sold to the PCL's Hollywood Stars, a Pittsburgh affiliate in those days. At this point, Beard was 30, and settled in; once again; as a "Quadruple A" guy. He was picked up by the Cleveland Indians, then shipped to the Chicago White Sox, where he returned to the bigs for the typical "cup of coffee", playing 57 games in 1957 and 1958. He hit the sixth (and final) homerun of his career as a member of the White Sox in '58.

Beard finished his playing days with the American Association's Indianapolis Indians, finally hanging up the spikes at age 42. Throughout this time he was arguably one of the greatest minor leaguers of his day. In 1960, he was even a player-manager for Indianapolis. He continued to coach in the minors upon retirement, until he eventually faded away from the public eye in the late 60's.

Today, Ted Beard is still alive and (reportedly) living in Florida. If you ever have one singular baseball autographed by Matthews, Mantle, Stargell, Mays and Ruth, make sure to track down Beard to complete your collection.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Sports · Next Topic »
Add Reply