The tributes thus far have reminded me how much I enjoyed Rod Beck when he closed for the Giants. The scowl that you could see from a bleacher seat, that pendulum arm that kept time as he read the catcher's signals, the bumble bee body that defied natural laws to accomplish the mission.

I remember one game that I attended at the 'Stick against the HATED DODGERS, Beck got himself into a jam, and pitched his way out of it, and Giant's short tenured catcher Brian Johnson went on to hit a walk-off HR a couple extra innings later to win the game for SF. One of the best games and most exciting pitching performances I have witnessed.

It's a shame he never wore the Orange and Black at PacBell Park. He was ably succeeded in the closer role by Rob Nen, so his accomplishments were perhaps a bit too quickly forgotten by a fickle public and press. But his larger than life persona during his time with the team will be a fond memory for many years to come. He was one of a kind