Former Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert Passes Away at 79

Though not the most famous or successful of his teammates, Glenn Beckert was an integral member of the Cubs for more than a decade because he was the perfect “glue guy.” He held down second base on an infield that included Ernie Banks and Ron Santo, amassing several accolades that were far exceeded by the esteem in which his friends held him. According to a release from the Cubs, Beckert passed away Sunday morning in Florida at the age of 79.

“Glenn Beckert was a wonderful person who also happened to be an excellent ballplayer. He was a mainstay at second base for the Cubs for nine seasons from 1965-73, earning a spot on four All-Star teams and a reputation for one of the toughest at-bats in the league as evidenced by his low strikeout rate. Glenn more than held his own playing alongside future Hall of Famers and won a Gold Glove for defensive excellence at second base in 1968.

“After his playing days concluded, Glenn was a familiar sight at Wrigley Field and numerous Cubs Conventions, and he always had a memory to share of his time on-and-off the field with his beloved teammates. We offer our deepest condolences to Glenn’s daughters, Tracy Seaman and Dana Starck, his longtime partner Marybruce Standley and his many, many friends.”

A career .283 hitter (1,473-for-5,208) over 11 major league seasons with the Cubs (1965-73) and Padres (1974-75), Beckert finished third in the National League in batting average when he hit a career-best .342 in 1971. He also led the NL in strikeout-to-at-bat ratio five times, which is no small feat.

Godspeed, Mr. Beckert.