Gordon Beckham: Difference between revisions

Gordon Beckham
Gordon Beckham
Chicago White Sox – No. 15
	Shortstop / Third Baseman
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
	June 4, 2009, for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics ; (through July 4th, 2009)
Batting average	.275
Home runs	3
Runs batted in	16
Teams
	Chicago White Sox (2009-present);

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Revision as of 02:59, 16 July 2009

James Gordon Beckham (born September 16, 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a baseball infielder, currently playing for the Chicago White Sox of the American League.

High School

Gordon Beckham (known as Bacon, Slayer, or sometimes even Bacon Slayer) played quarterback for The Westminster Schools (like his father, who went on to play quarterback for the University of South Carolina). In 2004, Gordon led the Wildcats to their first and only undefeated season, breaking his father's single-season record for touchdown passes in the process.

College

As a freshman in 2006, Gordon started all 70 games at shortstop, helping to lead the University of Georgia Bulldogs to the College World Series. He was named a Freshman All-American that year. As a sophomore, he started all 56 games that Georgia played. As a junior, he was the only unanimous selection to the All-SEC First Team and was selected as the SEC Player of the Year. He was also selected as an All-American, an Academic All-American, a Finalist for the NCAA Player of the Year and a Finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He led the NCAA in home runs that year, setting the school's single season home run record (26) and tied the school record for most home runs in a career (51) against NC State on June 8, 2008 in the deciding third game of the Super Regionals that sent Georgia to the College World Series. The home run came on his last at-bat at his home Foley Field, after which he received a curtain call. On June 25, 2008 with his last at bat as a college player, Beckham tied Matt Clark of LSU as the 2008 season home run leader (28). He finished college with 53 home runs, the most ever by a player at the University of Georgia.

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Beckham was selected eighth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Considered the number 1 rated prospect in the Chicago White Sox system at the start of the 2009 season according to Baseball America ^[1], Beckham played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Saguaros. He lit up the AFL, hitting .394 with 3 HRs and a .468 OBP in 66 at-bats. ^[2] He continued to impress in Spring Training, hitting .270 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in 37 at-bats.^[3] He forced his way into contention for the Sox' 25-man opening day roster, but it was eventually decided that he should start the season at the Sox' Double-A affiliate, the Birmingham Barons. After batting .299 over 38 games with the Barons, Beckham was promoted to Class AAA Charlotte Knights on May 27, 2009 and switched from his natural position at shortstop to third base. This was seen as a clear indication that he was being prepared for a Major League call-up, as White Sox third baseman Josh Fields was struggling at the plate and in defense. ^[4]

Major League

On June 3, 2009, the White Sox purchased Beckham's contract, adding him to the major league roster after he had hit .326 with 23 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 175 at-bats between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. Thus, Beckham reached the Majors 364 days after he was selected by the White Sox. He became the second position player from his draft class, behind the Giants' Conor Gillaspie, to make his MLB debut when, on June 4, 2009, he started at third base for the White Sox against the Oakland Athletics. In his debut Beckham went 0-3 with a strikeout and reached on a fielder's choice. He became the Sox' everyday starting third baseman, due to Josh Fields, and utility infielder Wilson Betemit's inadquacies at the plate and in defence. He struggled initially in the Major Leagues, going 2-for-28 over his first 8 games. His got first MLB hit, a single to centerfield, in his 14th at-bat on June 9, 2009 at U.S. Cellular Field, after which he received a standing ovation from the home crowd. On June 20, 2009, Beckham hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot in the fourth inning of the annual MLB Civil Rights Game, off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto. Beckham's milestone home run came while the Reds were ahead 5-0, and sparked a comeback victory for the Sox. On June 27, 2009, Beckham hit a walk-off double with two men on and two out in the bottom of the 9th inning against the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, his first walk-off hit. On June 29, 2009 Beckham went 3 for 3 with a walk and 2 RBIs as the Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6 to 3.^[5] While he does not have an official nickname, many Sox fans call him "Bacon," a name that originated from Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's pronunciation of Beckham's name. Some have also referred to him as Slayer, which comes from his reputation with the ladies dating to his days at Georgia.

References

External links

Career statistics from Error: Template:Baseballstats must contain at least one valid parameter name.

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|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1986 births

}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}}

|| LIVING  = 
| MISSING  = 
| UNKNOWN  = 
| #default =

}}

[1] ttp://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267204.html

[2] ttp://rotoexperts.com/content/view/2053/144/

[3] ttp://espn.go.com/mlb/springStats?team=chw&year=2009

[4] ttp://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/?pl_id=81958

[5] ttp://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090620&content_id=5437358&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

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 ===Major League===
-On [[June 3]], [[2009]], the White Sox purchased Beckham's contract, adding him to the major league roster after he had hit .326 with 23 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 175 at-bats between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. Thus, Beckham reached the Majors 364 days after he was selected by the White Sox. He became the second position player from his draft class, behind the [[San Francisco Giants|Giants']] [[Conor Gillaspie]], to make his MLB debut when, on [[June 4]], [[2009]], he started at third base for the White Sox against the [[Oakland Athletics]]. In his debut Beckham went 0-3 with a [[strikeout]] and reached on a [[fielder's choice]]. He became the Sox' everyday starting third baseman, due to [[Josh Fields (infielder)|Josh Fields]], and utility infielder [[Wilson Betemit]]'s inadquacies at the plate and in defence. He struggled initially in the Major Leagues, going 2-for-28 over his first 8 games. His got first MLB hit, a single to centerfield, in his 14th at-bat on [[June 9]], [[2009]] at [[U.S. Cellular Field]], after which he received a standing ovation from the home crowd. On [[June 20]], 2009, Beckham hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot in the fourth inning of the annual MLB [[Civil Rights Game]], off [[Cincinnati Reds]] starting pitcher [[Johnny Cueto]]. Beckham's milestone home run came while the Reds were ahead 5-0, and sparked a comeback victory for the Sox. On [[June 27]], 2009, Beckham hit a [[walk-off]] double with two men on and two out in the bottom of the 9th inning against the crosstown rival [[Chicago Cubs]], his first walk-off hit. On June 29, 2009 Beckham went 3 for 3  with a walk and 2 RBIs as the Sox beat the [[Cleveland Indians]] 6 to 3.<ref>http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090620&content_id=5437358&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws</ref> While he does not have an official nickname, many Sox fans call him "Bacon," a name that originated from Sox manager [[Ozzie Guillen]]'s pronunciation of Beckham's name.
+On [[June 3]], [[2009]], the White Sox purchased Beckham's contract, adding him to the major league roster after he had hit .326 with 23 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 175 at-bats between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. Thus, Beckham reached the Majors 364 days after he was selected by the White Sox. He became the second position player from his draft class, behind the [[San Francisco Giants|Giants']] [[Conor Gillaspie]], to make his MLB debut when, on [[June 4]], [[2009]], he started at third base for the White Sox against the [[Oakland Athletics]]. In his debut Beckham went 0-3 with a [[strikeout]] and reached on a [[fielder's choice]]. He became the Sox' everyday starting third baseman, due to [[Josh Fields (infielder)|Josh Fields]], and utility infielder [[Wilson Betemit]]'s inadquacies at the plate and in defence. He struggled initially in the Major Leagues, going 2-for-28 over his first 8 games. His got first MLB hit, a single to centerfield, in his 14th at-bat on [[June 9]], [[2009]] at [[U.S. Cellular Field]], after which he received a standing ovation from the home crowd. On [[June 20]], 2009, Beckham hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot in the fourth inning of the annual MLB [[Civil Rights Game]], off [[Cincinnati Reds]] starting pitcher [[Johnny Cueto]]. Beckham's milestone home run came while the Reds were ahead 5-0, and sparked a comeback victory for the Sox. On [[June 27]], 2009, Beckham hit a [[walk-off]] double with two men on and two out in the bottom of the 9th inning against the crosstown rival [[Chicago Cubs]], his first walk-off hit. On June 29, 2009 Beckham went 3 for 3  with a walk and 2 RBIs as the Sox beat the [[Cleveland Indians]] 6 to 3.<ref>http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090620&content_id=5437358&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws</ref> While he does not have an official nickname, many Sox fans call him "Bacon," a name that originated from Sox manager [[Ozzie Guillen]]'s pronunciation of Beckham's name. Some have also referred to him as Slayer, which comes from his reputation with the ladies dating to his days at Georgia.
 ==References==