So this is how it ends for Josh Beckett.
The former Red Sox pitcher announced his retirement from baseball Tuesday night after his Los Angeles Dodgers ended their postseason run with a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the NLDS.
Beckett spent 14 seasons in the majors, nearly seven of them with the Red Sox, and racked up numerous accolades that amount to a solid career for the right-hander. He is a three-time All-Star, was named the 2003 World Series MVP for the Florida Marlins, and was the 2007 ALCS MVP with the Red Sox and led the team to a World Series win that year.
Though he was certainly a talented pitcher with the Red Sox, Beckett’s bad attitude and lack of commitment to the team in the end led to his celebrated exit from Boston in August 2012. Throughout both the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Beckett was involved in controversy after controversy surrounding his behavior that indicated he was not as dedicated to winning as his numbers would have you believe. In 2011, after finishing the season with a career high 2.89 ERA, it was revealed that Beckett, along with fellow pitchers John Lackey and Jon Lester, regularly drank beer, ate fried chicken, and played video games in the clubhouse during games while their team severely struggled on the field.
And, of course, Beckett also appeared with Lackey, Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Clay Buchholz in the video for Kevin Fowler’s song, “Hell Yeah, I Like Beer,” and did so IN THEIR RED SOX UNIFORMS. As representatives of their team, this wasn’t really a good look for them and did nothing to quiet the uproar over the Chicken and Beer Scandal of 2011.
Beckett’s antics and negative attitude finally got him shipped out of Boston in the 2012 blockbuster trade that sent him to the Dodgers along with Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.
During his time in Los Angeles, Beckett suffered numerous injuries and underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in the 2013 offseason. Upon his return this past year, he threw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in May, but was back on the DL in July with a hip injury. This injury remained prevalent and ultimately influenced his decision to retire.
Beckett leaves the game to little fanfare or celebration and it is a stretch to say that he will be missed. His legacy with the Red Sox is one marred with controversy and his face will always come to mind as one of the key factors in the historically bad years for the team. It is important to remember his contributions during the team’s high points, but to not forget that he was also a major contributor to the lowest times.
Beckett finishes his career with a record of 138-106 and 3.88 ERA. He can now drink all the beer the wants.