European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Pm 30 stars and stripes Mideast edition june 2007 Beck remembered As old fashioned by Greg Beacham the associated press when news of Rod Becks Early death spread through major league clubhouses Sun former teammates and opponents of the colourful reliever shared countless stories with a common though Beck was a fearsome closer for 13 he was More admired for a genial nature and old fashioned approach to the game he a three time Allstar who earned 286 career was found dead in his Home sat he was he was an offbeat personal but he loved the respected the game and loved the san Francisco general manager Brian Sabean he just seemed like a regular per a Good the right hander spent his first seven seasons with the giants before going on to Success with the Chicago cubs and a lat career surge with the san Diego Beck was a menacing sight on the with a Bushy mus tache and sometimes generous pot belly to his searing stare and aggressive Arm swing before throwing a he certainly looked the part of a menacing and he lived up to his ii slinging reputation but Only on the he was a great Guy always always picking Guys said giants outfielder Ryan Kles who played with Beck in san i know he went through some Tough times in the last Cou ple of and it just crushes Beck was discovered when police responded to a Call to his Home in suburban police spokesman Andy Hill foul play is not suspect but the cause of death might not be known for several Beck was popular with team fans and but battled personal demons late in his he abruptly left the padres for a two month stint in re habilitation during his final sea son in he was having some prob and i just knew he went into rehab and joined us later that said giants manager Bruce the padres manager at the its so sad when you see healthy players go at such a Young this is a bad Day in baseball to lose a Guy who did so much for the nicknamed shooter and Well known for a fondness for country Cowboy boots and Beck pitched for the giants the cubs 199899 and Boston red sox 19992001 before finishing with the padres while working his Way Back to the majors in Beck pitched for the triple Iowa cubs and famously lived in a Winnebago parked beyond the Outfield fans would drop by for autographs and stay for a you wanted him to have the Ball at the end of the said Pittsburgh outfielder Xavier who played with Beck in san Diego in when he picked up 20 saves and three Vic tories in an incredible stretch while filling in for Trevor now the majors career saves he was very Good at what he hell always be respected for what he did As a he was a Guy who was fun to be and made other Guys Beck set the giants season record with 48 saves in he was on the Mound when san Francisco clinched the no West title in and was the giants career saves Leader with 199 until Robb Nen passed him in in the giants organization is deeply saddened by the loss of a dear giants owner Peter Magowan Rod Beck was a True giant in every sense of the from his dedication on the Field to his selflessness away from the after Beck and several cubs teammates would often sit around drinking Beer and smok ing cigarettes As they talked base you dont see that cubs Pitcher Kerry Wood really Haven seen a whole lot of it since he that part of the old school you hang around and you have a few Beers and talk about the game and talk about mistakes you talk about Good things you did and learn from each Griffey enjoys warm weekend baseball Roundup the associated press Ken Griffey moved up on the Home run Roger Clemens came out of the bullpen and Josh Beckett beat Jake Peavy in matchup of while several big stars were on Center stage a Little known Toronto Pitcher took his shot at Dustin Mcgowans bid for the second no hitter in Blue jays history ended when Jeff Baker singled Lead ing off the ninth he got the next three outs for a 50 Vic tory Over Colorado that gave Toronto a three game sweep of the that was the Best pitched game Ive seen in a Long Rockies manager Clint hurdle Back in Griffey capped a warm Homecoming weekend by hitting two Home runs to pass Mark Mcgwire for seventh place on the career list in the Cincinnati reds 32 loss to the the slugger now has 584 Griffey said he wants to re turn to the Emerald City again to retire As a you always want to retire with the team you started he but Ive still got a few More so i dont think its any time asked to clarify whether hed like to play for Seattle Griffey i dont that depends on a lot of health and everything Griffey didst specify whether hed like to return As an Active player or simply for a ceremonial contract before the 37yearold former Seattle icon is signed with his Hometown reds through they hold a million option in 2009 with a million in san Clemens made his first regular season Relief appearance since he was a Boston red sox Rookie in walking Barry Bonds on five pitches before yielding one run in the seventh in Ning of the new York Yankees 72 loss to the who lost in Colorado on thurs Day and missed a Chance for his 350th Victo yielded a sacrifice Fly by Nate Schier Ted Cincinnatus Ken Griffey Waves goodbye to fans As he leaves the Field after the eighth inning of sundays game against the Seattle Griffey capped his first trip Back to Seattle since being traded to the reds by hitting two homers in a 32 loss on Holtz that raised his Era to but the 44yearold right hander also elevated his esteem in the eyes of any new York fans or teammates who might have doubted his commitment to the if the manager trusts you enough to put you you want to be Clemens i watched the last couple of any Chance i can give the bullpen Guys a Chance to rest Treyve been at san Beckett 111 became baseballs first 11game Winner and Boston touched up Peavy 92 in a 42 Victory Over the Hes if not the one of the Best in the and we did make him work red sox manager Terry fran Cona said of and fortunately for one of the other Best is on our and he was the Becket Peavy matchup was just the third in history in which the opposing Start ers each had nine or More victories against one or fewer the previous one was when Toronto Clemens 111 faced at Lantas Denny Neagle 91 on june Jason Varitek tripled and homered for the Al East who took two of three from the twins marlins 4 at Johan Santana 86 pitched six innings and drove in a run with his first career Joe Mauer hit two homers for the who have won both games while scoring 18 runs since 2006 Al map Justin Morneau was sidelined with a bruised mets athletics 2 John Maine 84 pitched seven innings and the mets finished their first series sweep at Home since last Jose Valentin had three including a three run cubs White sox 0 Alfonso Soriano showed off his Power and his and the cubs completed a three game Sori Ano Cut Down a runner at the plate in the fifth with a Strong throw and then hit his third Homer of the series in the it was his 15th of the season and Sean Marshall 42 allowed five hits in 6va Jose Contreras 58 Al Lowed 10 hits and two runs in seven innings for the White who have lost 22 of Angels pirates 3 at Erick Aybar singled Home the win Ning run and Jose Molina had two leading los Angeles to a three game the Al West leaders won their fourth the pirates have lost five in a Matching their ingest skid this Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez gave up the tying run in the ninth on Xavier Nadys rib single and was charged with his second blown save in 24 Devil rays dodgers 4 at Peters Edwin Jackson 18 beat his former team for his first Victory in almost two and to Wigginton homered off Hong Chin Kuo 13 for Tampa royals Brewers 3 Joey Gath rights base loaded walk off Chris spurt ing lifted Kansas Corey Hart and Tony Graffagnino homered for the nationals indians 1 at Jason Simontacchi 55 shut Down the indians for six innings and Jesus Flores drove in two Chad Cordero got his 13th Jake Westbrook 13 came off the disabled list and pitched seven innings for Cleveland in his first Start since May National league Phillies cardinals 1 at Pinch hitter Shane Victorino had a tie three run double in the