My favorite Jim Beck memory dates back to the late 1990s when I first began playing in the 28+ league.  I was our team’s catcher, and Jim would periodically pitch for us.  Now, anyone who has seen Jimmy pitch knows that he relied less on “velocity” as he did on “guile.”  But the first time I caught him was a treat.

After warming him up on the field, I ran out as I always did to ask him what pitches he had that day. He said,

“Well I’ve got a slow ball, a slower ball, an even slower ball, and a curveball.”

He had four pitches.  Sounds good.  So I go back behind the plate and start working him through his repertoire only to discover that they all pretty much looked the same coming in.   Which was ok because an inning or two later it got too dark for him to see my signals, so he instructed me to “just hold your hand up so I can see what you’re calling.” Which he announced from the pitcher’s mound in the middle of an at-bat.

He was a character. He loved the game, he devoted so much of his time and energy to it.  Our league and our lives are less enriched without him.

Todd Boss,
Jim Beck teammate with the DCMSBL Vienna Braves 1998-2007