Josh Beckett

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Joshua Patrick Beckett (born May 15, 1980) is a former American professional baseball pitcher.

A three-time Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star, he played for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a stellar high school career, where he was regarded as one of the top prospects in the country, he was drafted by the Marlins with the second pick in the 1999 MLB draft.

He won the 2003 World Series with the Marlins and the 2007 World Series with the Red Sox, and received the 2007 American League Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and the 2003 World Series MVP award.

He was traded from the Marlins to the Red Sox in 2006 and from the Red Sox to the Dodgers in 2012, both as part of multi-player transactions. Beckett recovered from a serious injury that caused him to miss most of the 2013 season and pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 25, 2014 for the Dodgers, becoming the 19th man to do so in Dodgers history.

However, his season was again cut short due to an injury and he announced his retirement on October 7, 2014.

Early life

Beckett grew up idolizing fellow Texans Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. As a youth, he starred on Little League All-Star teams. He later attended Spring High School in Spring, Texas. He had trouble with grades and with paying attention to his coach during his freshman year, so his coach in frustration threw Beckett off the team. He experienced a growth spurt before his sophomore year and added speed to his fastball. He also raised his GPA and was able to get back on the team, where he had a 9–3 record with a 1.18 earned run average (ERA) as a sophomore, tossing three no-hitters.

As a high school junior, Beckett was ranked by Baseball America as the top high school prospect in the nation, and his team as the top high school baseball team. He compiled a 13–2 record and struck out 2.1 batters per inning while walking only 20 batters all season. His high school coach said "I’ve never seen a pitcher with his ability—ever."

In his senior season, Beckett, by this point nicknamed "Kid Heat," was named the High School player of the year by USA Today. Beckett signed a letter of intent to pitch for Texas A&M University, but he and Josh Hamilton were seen as the top two players available in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. Concerned about Beckett's perceived arrogance, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays chose Hamilton with the first pick. Beckett, meanwhile, was chosen with the second pick by the Florida Marlins. Marlins scouting director Al Avila said at the time, "Beckett has good size and has an overpowering fastball. He's a bulldog on the mound." Showing his confidence, Beckett predicted that he would make it to the major leagues within two years and play in an All-Star game by 2001.

Personal life

Beckett has been linked to such celebrities as model/sportcaster Leeann Tweeden and country singer Danielle Peck. On October 18, 2007, Peck was invited by the Cleveland Indians to sing the National Anthem prior to Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and Indians. Beckett was the starting pitcher in that game, and some Red Sox fans theorized that her invitation was an attempt by the Indians organization to distract Beckett. The Indians denied this claim. On January 22, 2011, he married Holly Fisher, an aeronautics engineer and former high school classmate. The couple have three children together. Beckett owns homes in Manhattan Beach, California, and Boerne, Texas.

Beckett is an avid deer hunter and has been since childhood. He was the 2002 winner of the Muy Grande Deer Contest for bringing down the largest buck during the Texas deer hunting season. He owns Herradura Ranch, a 7,000 acres (28 km2) deer-hunting ranch outside of Cotulla, Texas.

He was featured in a Kevin Fowler music video alongside his teammates John Lackey, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.

On November 11, 2017, Beckett was arrested for public intoxication as a result of charging at a country band at a local bar in Texas. The singer received a torn rotator cuff and dislocated shoulder.

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Baseball career

Beckett participated in protracted talks with the Marlins, during which he briefly attended Blinn Junior College, but he eventually committed to a four-year $7 million contract with a $3.625 million signing bonus on August 28, 1999. Except pitcher Alex Fernandez, his signing bonus was higher than what the Marlins were paying for anyone on the Major League roster.

Beckett's first spring training with the Marlins was a success, with a fastball that clocked at 94–96 mph (151–154 km/h) and a solid curveball. He also demonstrated his contribution to the team by donating $100,000 to the team's charitable foundation, more than any other player. He made his professional debut with the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League. On a double by Albert Pujols, he pitched four innings and allowed just one run as the Cougars' opener on Opening Day. Beckett suffered from shoulder tendinitis and a frayed rotator cuff, which took longer to heal because he did too much weight lifting while on the disabled list. "I tried to get too strong too fast and ended up making it worse," he'd later say. He played in 13 games for the Cougars and finished with a 2.1 ERA and 61 strikeouts, a career low. He was selected by Baseball America as the Marlins best prospect and 19th best in the entire minor leagues, as well as the Midwest League's best fastball. He was also chosen to participate in the All-Star Futures Game, a showcase for the best prospects.

Beckett was assigned by the Marlins to the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League at the start of the 2001 season. In his first 38+2/3 innings, he didn't allow an earned run in his first 38+2/3 innings and went 6–0 with a 1.23 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 13 games. "He pitched as well in the Florida State League as in any other case I've been associated with," Marlins General Manager Dave Dombrowski said, resulting in a promotion to the Eastern League's Double A Portland Sea Dogs. Beckett's first nine batters he faced in his Sea Dogs debut on June 16, 2001, he struck out eight of eight of the first nine batters. On August 13, 2001, he joined two other Sea Dogs pitchers to throw a no-hitter against the Binghamton Mets. In 13 starts for the team, he had an 8–1 record, a 1.82 ERA, and struck out 102 batters.

Baseball America, The Sporting News, and USA Today announced him as the Year's Minor League Player of the Year. While the Marlins named him as their best prospect and third best in all of baseball, baseball America ranked him as the best prospect and third best in all of baseball, the Marlins also named him as their best organizational minor league player of the year.

Beckett's first MLB appearance came against the Chicago Cubs on September 4, 2001, in which he gave up one hit over six shutout innings to earn his first MLB victory. In the game, he also doubled and scored. "It was fun," Beckett said later. I'm excited for my next one." In his first ten innings, he didn't allow a single run before giving up a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero against the Montreal Expos on September 19. He ended 2001 with four games played, a 2–2 record, and a 1.50 ERA.

Beckett's best performance on a nine-inning game was on July 21, when he struck out 12 Expos in a single game, combining with a couple of relief pitchers. In 23 appearances for the Marlins in 2002, which included two relief appearances, he was 6–7 with a 4.10 ERA and 113 strikeouts.

Beckett was named the Marlins' opening day starting pitcher in 2003, and at 22 years old, he was the team's youngest opening day starter. However, he only lasted 2+2/3 innings in the third innings as the Philadelphia Phillies scored five runs in the third as a result of two miscalculations and a passed ball. In mid-May, he was put on the disabled list (DL) with a sprained right elbow, as part of a string of team injuries that led to manager Jeff Torborg's dismissal. He recovered from his injury on July 1 and ended the season with a 9–8 record, a 3.04 ERA, and 152 strikeouts.

Beckett made his postseason debut against the San Francisco Giants in the first game of the 2003 National League (NL) Division Series, where he allowed only one run in seven innings against the San Francisco Giants, but lost as Jason Schmidt pitched a complete game shutout. The Marlins did win the series in four games, but not in four games. He did not start well in game one of the 2003 NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs, with two of them being on a home run by Moisés Alou and six runs in his 6+13 innings. The Marlins fought back and claimed the game in extra innings. When Beckett returned to the mound in game five, the Cubs took the next three games and only needed one more to tie the series. In the complete game shutout to keep his team alive, only three Cubs were allowed to reach base in the game on two singles and a walk. The Marlins also played game six, thanks in large part to the infamous Steve Bartman incident. Beckett came in out of the bullpen to pitch four innings in game seven on two days rest, and the Marlins thrashed the National League championship.

The Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in 2003 with two solid shows on three days' rest. Beckett earned the 2003 World Series MVP Award with two strong performances on three days' rest. In game three, he struck out ten runs and allowed only two runs in 7+13 innings. In game six at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees beat them out in a complete game, throwing out nine batters and clinching the series by making the tag for the final out.

In 2004, Beckett got the Marlins off to a good start, giving one run in seven innings against the Expos. During the season, he made three trips to the DL, but he still pitched a career-high 26 starts and 156+23 innings. He was 9-9 with a 3.79 ERA and had 152 strikeouts in his second year in a row, but the Marlins failed to make the playoffs, and did not make it to the playoffs. He was 15-08 with a 3.38 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 29 games in 2005.

Beckett had a 41–34 record, a 3.46 ERA, and shut down a total of 607 batters in 106 games during his five seasons with the Marlins. He made a no decision in a game the Marlins lost on September 23, 2005, his last start as a Marlin.

Beckett, along with third baseman Mike Lowell and relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2005 for minor league shortstop Hanley Ramrez (the top prospect in the Red Sox system at the time) and pitchers Anz. Jes Delgado and Harvey Garca. The Marlins traded Beckett and Lowell among a long list of veterans in an attempt to shed money. This was formally referred to as a market correction. Beckett won over the Texas Rangers on April 5, 2006, his first appearance with the Red Sox.

Beckett was the first Red Sox pitcher to reach a home run in 35 years — and before the introduction of the designated hitter rule — when he jogged Phillies pitcher Brett Myers deep during an interleague game on May 20, 2006. He signed a three-year, $30 million deal extension on July 18, as well as a $10 million club option for 2010. Beckett played for the Red Sox in his first season as a member of 16-11 and a 5.01 ERA. He took up 191 hits and struck out 158 batters while walking 74 in 204+2/3 innings. He also allowed 36 home runs, tied for second most in the majors.

Beckett's 2007 debutant was toss more breaking pitches and less fastballs. At the same time, he learned to locate his pitches rather than simply getting strikes by power. He cut his walks and home runs allowed by nearly half, contributing to his 2007 triumph. Beckett was one of six Red Sox pitchers to win their first seven starts in history. George Winter and Mickey Harris both made their first seven starts in a season, and Babe Ruth, Dave Ferriss, and Roger Moret all made their first eight starts in a season. He was selected to the American League team in the 2007 MLB All-Star Game after a strong first half with a 3.44 ERA. After pitching two innings, giving up only one hit and striking out two, Beckett gained the victory in the game. Beckett was the first pitcher to win 20 games in a season since 2005, posting a record of 20–7, a 3.27 ERA, 194 strikeouts, a 1.14 WHIP, and only 40 walks and 17 home runs allowed. In AL Cy Young Award voting, he came in second, behind CC Sabathia.

Beckett threw a shutout against the Anaheim Angels on 108 pitches, 83 of which were strike, to begin the 2007 American League Division Series. Beckett started the first game of the 2007 American League Championship Series (ALCS) in 2007 and pitched six innings for the victory, while in game five he struck out 11 in eight innings. Beckett's 2–0 record and 1.93 ERA against the Cleveland Indians earned him the 2007 ALCS MVP Award. He started and won the first game of the 2007 World Series against the Colorado Rockies, pitching seven innings, allowing one run on six hits, and striking out nine batters. In the series, Boston would sweep the Rockies.

When Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers struck out swinging in the eighth inning, Beckett recorded his 1,000th career strikeout. In 27 starts, he was 12-10 with a 4.03 ERA. In game three of the 2008 American League Division Series against the Anaheim Angels, he allowed four runs in five innings. He made two starts against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 ALCS, but had a batting record of 9.64.

Beckett won by five runs and two hits in 2009, when he was on his first Opening Day with the Red Sox. MLB fined and suspended him six games for intentionally throwing over the head of Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu. Beckett appealed the suspension and saw it reduced to five games. In a duel against former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe, he recorded his first complete game shutout in three years against the Atlanta Braves on June 20, 2009. It was his first time in a Red Sox uniform. He was selected to represent Boston in the 2009 MLB All Star Game on July 5, 2009.

Beckett won his 100th game in career on July 12, 2009, tossing the Kansas City Royals in a complete loss at Fenway Park. On August 7, 2009, he joined former Marlins teammate A. J. Burnett in a pitching duel that erupted into a fifteen-inning, three-minute game. Burnett threw seven shutout innings, and Burnett threw 7+23. The Red Sox eventually lost the game in the bottom of the 15th, after Alex Rodriguez hit a walk-off two-run home run. He was 17–6 on the season, with a 3.86 ERA and a career-best 199 strikeouts in 32 starts. In Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS, he got his one start in the postseason to the Angels.

The Red Sox and Beckett have agreed to a four-year, $68 million contract extension beginning on April 5, 2010. He allowed nine runs on May 7 but also struck out eight runs and two batters. This was the first time a Major League pitcher had that combination of stats in a single game since Jack Coombs of the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1911 season. He was put on the disabled list on May 19 with a lower back strain and recovered from the injury on July 23. He was 6–6 with a 5.78 ERA in 21 starts in 2010.

He set career highs in ERA (2.89), opponent batting average (.211) and WHIP (1.03) in 2011. In 30 games, he was 13–7 and was selected to his third All-Star Game. He hit Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist in the sixth inning on September 16, his 1,000th strikeout as a member of the Red Sox. The Red Sox crumbled and failed to make the playoffs at the 2011 season. Beckett and two more starting pitchers (John Lackey and Jon Lester) were caught up in a controversy in which the three drank alcohol, ate fried chicken, and played video games during games where they weren't pitching. Beckett was praised as the head of this group, and some of the team's ineffective play down the stretch were attributed to this behavior.

Beckett struggled in the 2012 season, he went 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA as a Red Sox, going 5–11. Despite being delayed from his start due to a lat muscle injury, he was still at the center of yet another controversy when it was revealed that he played many rounds of golf. He allowed four runs in six innings against the Yankees on August 19, 2012, in what would be his last appearance with the Red Sox. With an 89-58 record, a 4.17 ERA, and 1,108 strikeouts, he played 194 regular season games for the Red Sox over seven seasons.

Beckett was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 25, 2012, along with Adrián González, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto, who also received $11 million in cash) for James Loney, Iván DeJes, Jr., Allen Webster, and two players to be announced later (Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa). Since being drafted and played seven games for the Dodgers, he was 2–3 with a 2.93 ERA.

Beckett had a rough start to the 2013 season, a 0–5 record and a 5.19 ERA in eight starts. On May 15, he was placed on the disabled list with a groin strain. When he was on the disabled list, he began to experience numbness and tingling in his hand, so he went to see a nerve specialist and expressed worry that he might not be able to pitch again. While undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation program in an attempt to prevent season-ending surgery, the Dodgers barred him from pitching for a month. However, when it came back to his throwing regimen in late June, the tingling sensation was revived. He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, which required him to have surgery on July 10, 2013, which ended his 2013 season.

Beckett's surgery, which involved the removal of a rib from his body, made him a question mark for the Dodgers going into 2014. On April 9, he made his first appearance since the previous May, allowing four runs in four innings. He won his first match since 2012.

Beckett pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in Citizens Bank Park on May 25, 2014, the first since Hideo Nomo did so in the 1996 season. In 1978, he became the first pitcher to no-hit the Phillies after Bob Forsch. Beckett threw 128 pitches, struck out six, and walked three en route to victory. In 2004, Beckett became the first pitcher (34) to throw a no-hitter after Randy Johnson (40) threw a flawless game. As a result of the game, he was named National League Player of the Week.

Beckett suffered a left hip impingement on July 8, 2014, an injury he said had gotten worse as the season progressed. On July 22, he returned to the rotation, but he was disappointed when he returned. In a start on August 3, he was only able to pitch four innings against the Cubs. Beckett told the team afterwards that he had rehearsing pain in his injured leg. An MRI revealed that his hip impingement resulted in a torn labrum and two cysts, possibly necrequiring season ending surgery. On August 8, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Beckett's season was likely to end due to his injury, according to Dodgers boss Don Mattingly on September 3, 2014. Beckett revealed that he would not pitch again in 2014 and that he was also considering retirement a few days later. Beckett announced his resignation on October 7, 2014.

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