Bob Beall

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#af0039
bgcolor2=#0f437c
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Bob Beall
position=First base
bats=Both
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1948|4|24
debutdate=May 12
debutyear=1975
debutteam=Atlanta Braves
finaldate=September 23
finalyear=1980
finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.231
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=54
stat3label=RBIs
stat3value=18
teams=
*Atlanta Braves (by|1975, by|1978-by|1979)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|1980)
highlights=

Robert Brooks Beall (born April 24, 1948, in Portland, Oregon) is a former professional American baseball player who played Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves (by|1975, by|1978-by|1979) and the Pittsburgh Pirates in (by|1980). He played in a total of 148 games in his four-year Major League career, leaving with .231 average.

Early years

Beall graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1966, where he won a state championship his senior year. During his high school career he played for coach Ad Rutschman, and participated in the first game at Hare Field in 1965. [McKinney, Dick. Sparts win first game at Hare. "The Hillsboro Argus", October 19 1976.] After his senior year he was named player of the year in Oregon and was offered scholarships to the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. [http://www.volgagermans.net/portland/Portland_Athletics.htm Athletics.] Germans from Russia in Portland, accessed October 28 2007.]

He choose Oregon State in Corvallis where he would serve as captain of the baseball team and was selected to the Pacific 8 (now Pacific-10 Conference) all-conference team as the first baseman. Additionally, Beall became the first left-handed third baseman in the history of the conference.

His two brothers Jim and Gene also graduated from Hillsboro High, with Jim also playing baseball at OSU before moving to politics.

Beall was drafted in the 28th round of the 1970 amateur draft after graduating with a bachelors degree in mathematics.

Professional baseball

After leaving Oregon State, the 5-10 first baseman spent several years in the minor leagues. He had signed with the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League and sent to their Walla Walla, Washington, farm team. There he hit for a .389 average for Walla Walla, followed by .314 in the Carolina League.Maves, Jr., Norm. Hillsboro reunion showcases ‘60s greats. "The Oregonian", August 17 1988.] He then spent the next few years moving up through the Phillies farm system. After a year in triple A ball for the Eugene Emeralds, Beall was traded to the Atlanta Braves and played with their triple A team in Richmond, Virginia. Other stops included Reading, Pennsylvania, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico over a 12-year period playing professional baseball.

On May 12, 1975, Beall made his Major League debut playing first base for the Atlanta Braves. [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=beallbo01 Bob Beall Stats.] Baseball Almanac, accessed October 28 2007.] During the by|1975 season he played eight games and hit for a .226 batting average with one run batted in. After spending the next few years in the minor leagues, he returned to Atlanta for the by|1978 season. That season he hit one home run, drove in 16 runs, while batting .243 over 108 games. The next season was his last for the Braves, and he played in 17 games and hit .133. 1980 was his last year in the Major Leagues, where played in three games without a single hit for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his 148 game career he hit .231 in 234 at bats with one home run, 18 RBIs, and a .987 fielding average. After leaving the Pirates, he spent some time with the Portland Beavers minor league team in Portland, Oregon. With the Beavers he was a player-coach at a time when the team was the triple A affiliate for the Pirates. He then retired in 1981 and returned to Hillsboro and began working for sportswear company Nike.

References

External links