Ralph Beard
1955 Bowman card
Pitcher
Born: (1929-02-11)February 11, 1929
Cincinnati
Died: February 10, 2003(2003-02-10) (aged 73)
West Palm Beach, Florida
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 1954, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
September 9, 1954, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–4
Earned run average3.72
Innings pitched58
Teams

Ralph William Beard (February 11, 1929 – February 10, 2003) was an American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher whose ten-season (1947–56) pro career included 13 games pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. Beard, a native of Cincinnati, attended the University of Cincinnati. He stood 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg).

Beard's 13 big-league appearances included ten starting pitcher assignments, as he took a regular turn in the Cardinals' rotation during late July and August of the 1954 season. Although he lost all four decisions, he made a memorable start on July 22, 1954, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. He went 12 innings and allowed only one earned run and eight hits (including a home run by Preston Ward for the Pirates' earned run), but left the game for a pinch hitter with the score tied 2–2. He was relieved by Gerry Staley, who hurled two perfect frames and St. Louis won, 3–2, in 14 innings.[1]

As a starter, Beard gave up 29 runs in ten efforts and 492⁄3 innings pitched, but only 21 were earned (for a 3.81 earned run average in starting assignments). All told as a Major Leaguer, he surrendered 62 hits and 28 bases on balls in 58 innings pitched, with 17 strikeouts.

Beard died in West Palm Beach, Florida, on the day before his 74th birthday.

References

  1. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 2". retrosheet.org. July 22, 1954. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
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