Advertisement

Four-time All-Star and ‘all-time Cub great’ Glenn Beckert dies in Florida at 79

The second baseman played alongside four future Hall of Famers in Chicago and had the best strikeout-to-at-bat ratio in the NL five times.
 
In this undated photo, Cubs second baseman Glenn Beckert beats the throw as he slides into home plate.
In this undated photo, Cubs second baseman Glenn Beckert beats the throw as he slides into home plate. [ Unknown ]
Published April 12, 2020|Updated April 12, 2020

CHICAGO — Glenn Beckert, a four-time All-Star second baseman for the Chicago Cubs in the 1960s and ‘70s, died Sunday morning. He was 79.

Citing his family, the Cubs said he died of natural causes in Florida.

Playing alongside Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ferguson Jenkins, Beckert won a Gold Glove in 1968 and made four straight All-Star teams for Chicago starting in 1969. He had the best strikeout-to-at-bat ratio in the National League five times and finished third in average when he hit a career-high .342 in 1971.

Jenkins, 77, posted a message on his Twitter account on Sunday saying: "We lost a great one today, Glenn Beckert. Glenn was My friend, my @Cubs teammate, and the best man at my wedding. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the Beckert family.

Former Rays and Cubs manager Joe Maddon, now with the Angels, wrote on Twitter that Beckert “was so proud of his minimal strikeouts.”

“We spoke about that often ... an all-time Cub great,” Maddon wrote. “A Gentleman and friend.”

Beckert batted .283 in 11 seasons with Chicago (1965-73) and the San Diego Padres (1974-75).

Among second baseman, Beckert ranks in the top five in Cubs history in games played (1,247), hits (1,423), doubles (194), triples (31), runs scored (672) and walks (248). Renowned as a contact hitter and usually batting second in the Cubs starting lineup behind shortstop Don Kessinger and ahead of Williams, Santo and Banks, Beckert finished first in the NL in fewest strikeouts per at-bats from 1966-69 and in 1972.

The website bleedcubbieblue.com wrote:

“Around the horn, Santo, Kessinger, Beckert, Banks, the infield third to first."

Those words were spoken hundreds of times by Cubs play-by-play announcer Jack Brickhouse from 1965 to 1971, when those four were mainstays in a Cubs infield that thrilled fans and came oh-so-close to ending the team’s postseason drought.

"Ron Santo passed away in 2010; Ernie Banks left this earth in 2015.

Today, we have lost another Cubs legend.

Beckert is survived by daughters Tracy Seaman and Dana Starck, and longtime partner Marybruce Standley.

“Glenn Beckert was a wonderful person who also happened to be an excellent ballplayer,” read a statement from the Cubs. "He was a mainstay at second base for the Cubs for nine seasons from 1965-73, earning a spot on four All-Star teams and a reputation for one of the toughest at-bats in the league as evidenced by his low strikeout rate. Glenn more than held his own playing alongside future Hall of Famers and won a Gold Glove for defensive excellence at second base in 1968.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

"After his playing days concluded, Glenn was a familiar sight at Wrigley Field and numerous Cubs Conventions, and he always had a memory to share of his time on-and-off the field with his beloved teammates. We offer our deepest condolences to Glenn’s daughters, Tracy Seaman and Dana Starck, his longtime partner Marybruce Standley and his many, many friends.”

“Beck was the glue that helped meld together four Hall of Famers,” said Ned Colletti, a former Cubs executive and bleacher bum in a text message. “He was the prototypical second hitter followed by three straight Hall of Fame hitters. He rarely struck out. He could move a runner, played the game the right way.

"Now his buddies Ronnie and Ernie have someone to turn a double play.”

“When (Beckert) attended fantasy camps, he was into it,” said Ron Coomer, 53, the Cubs’ radio analyst and former All-Star infielder. “He loved anything that had to do with the Cubs. He was a stitch. He loved talking to the campers and about the ‘69 Cubs.

"He loved giving (former Cubs catcher) Randy Hundley a hard time. He would tell Randy he could tell him everything about catching. But when it came to hitting, he would tell Randy to leave the room. He had a big personality.”

Information from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and the Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.