Player Profile: Josh Beckett

I have 28 cards of Josh Beckett. This one is from 2011 Topps Heritage.

Playing career: Josh Beckett came up with the Marlins in 2001 and emerged as one of the best young pitchers in baseball. In 2005 the Marlins traded him to Boston for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, and he solidified his standing as one of the best pitchers in the game, particularly in 2007 when he helped Boston to a world championship with a 20-win season. His performance and, supposedly, his attitude declined in the early 2010’s and he was shipped off to the Dodgers in the middle of the 2012 season as part of a bold blockbuster deal that has helped both teams.

Where his is now: His 2013 season ended in May with surgery that included having a rib removed. For the season he went 0-5 in eight starts with a 5.19 ERA.

My memories: As a Yankee fan I don’t have any love for Beckett. My clearest memory of him is his shutting down of the Yankees in the 2003 World Series, particularly the series-ending shutout in Game 6. The Yankees had some success against him when he was with Boston. He is best remembered as a Red Sox not for his success but as being a key part of the “chicken and beer” pitching staff that got blamed for the team’s 2011 collapse.

Interesting facts: The Josh Beckett Foundation is considered one of the poorest-run baseball player charities, donating just 37% of revenues to charity. The minimum accepted giving percentage for charities is 65%-75%.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Josh B, between Josh Brolin and Josh Blaylock, both actors. There do not appear to be any other prominent Josh Becketts.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Robbie Beckett.