Rod Beck, an All-Star relief pitcher who wore a bushy mustache while earning 286 career saves in Major League Baseball, has died. He was 38 years old.
Beck was found on Saturday by police officers responding to a call to his home in suburban Phoenix, police department spokesman Andy Hill said on Sunday. Foul play is not suspected.
With his long hair framing a menacing stare and an aggressive arm swing before delivering a pitch, the outgoing right-hander was a memorable personality and a three-time All-Star.
He spent the first seven of his 13 major league seasons with the San Francisco Giants.
Beck was popular with his teammates, reporters and fans, but battled personal demons late in his life. He abruptly left the San Diego Padres for a two-month stint in drug rehabilitation during his final season in 2004.
"He was having some problems, and I just knew he went into rehab and joined us later that year," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, the Padres' manager at the time. "It's so sad when you see healthy players go at such a young age. This is a bad day in baseball to lose a guy who did so much for the game."
Beck played for the Giants (1991-1997), the Chicago Cubs (1998-1999) and the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001) before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-2004).
Beck set the Giants' record for saves in a season with 48 in 1993. He was on the mound when San Francisco clinched the National League West Division title in 1997, and was the Giants' career saves leader with 199 until Robb Nen passed him in 2002.
Beck saved 51 games for Chicago in 1998, helping the Cubs win the NL wild card. He had a career record of 38-45 in 704 games.
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