Here is a recent article a family member sent me from Spring. For all you non Southerners... In Texas opening day for deer hunting is like a National Holiday!!!

 

 

 

Josh Beckett named World Series MVP

 

 

 

 

By Allan Owen, Contributing Writer November 05, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

Josh Beckett is a native of our community, born here on May 15, 1980. Now the entire world knows his name and that he hails from Spring, Texas.

 

At 23 years of age, he is next in line to join the group of fabulous Texas flame throwers that have dominated the major leagues. He follows Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood, to name just a few.

 

Beckett gained much fame in the youth baseball programs and as the UIL Class 5A pitcher of the year while at Spring High School from 1997-1999. He was known for his dominant fast ball and curve ball that kept the hitters off balance. A skill he exhibited against the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees this past October in the National League Championship Series and World Series.

 

Beckett was named the 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player for his performance in this year's fall classic as a star pitcher of the Florida Marlins. He pitched two classic games in the World Series, including a complete shut out in Game 6, to defeat the Yankees 2-0, clinching the World Series for the Marlins. He completed 16 and 1/3 innings allowing only two earned runs and eight hits and struck out 19 batters in leading the Marlins to their second championship in their short ten year history. In the National League Championship series against the Cubs, Beckett threw 19 innings and after his first inning, he allowed only one run and five hits, striking out 18 batters to help Florida win the NL pennant.

 

The young phenom was drafted second in the major league baseball draft in 1999 right out of high school by the Marlins. Beckett was named the USA Today high school pitcher of the year in 1999. Baseball America tabbed him the number one high school prospect in the country. He had a 23-2 record, 333 strikeouts, 51 walks, and an ERA of 0.42 in 164 innings during his final two years as a prep star. After signing with Florida in the fall of 1999, Beckett spent his first season in 2000 at Kane County (Class A) and appeared in 13 games with an ERA of 2.13, striking out 61 in 51 innings. The second season started at Brevard County, moving up to Portland, and then his MLB debut with Florida in September 2001 against Chicago, allowing one hit in 6 innings earning the win. He was named the minor league pitcher of the year in 2001 with a 14-1 record and an ERA of 1.54 in 26 games. In 2002, Josh encountered three different stints on the disabled list with a recurring finger blister. He appeared in 23 games compiling a 6-7 record and 173 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched. This season, he was 9-8 in 23 games with a 3.04 ERA and 152 strike outs in 142 innings. This post season Beckett came of age with six appearances totaling 42 innings, yielding 10 earned runs, 21 hits, striking out 47 batters and having an ERA of 2.11 as he led the Marlins to the championship and earned the most valuable player award for his performance to his team.

 

The Marlins played in Houston earlier in the season and he gave me the opportunity to talk with him as he shared a few of his thoughts and ideas that had changed since his high school playing days for the Spring Lions.

 

"I wasn't quite prepared coming out of high school," said a much more mature and confident Beckett in the Marlins clubhouse as a visitor to Minute Maid Park. "I have learned to keep my body in good shape and conditioning is a part of my daily life and routine."

 

Beckett credits his parents, John and Lynn, and his pitching coach, Randy Ewing, at Class A (Brevard) along with his high school coach Kenny Humphreys with helping him the most. His manager and coaches on the Marlins all agree that Beckett is very special and they are glad to be a part of his development at the major league level.

 

Josh makes his home in Spring in the off season and has his own apartment in the Miami area during the long baseball season. He enjoys hunting and fishing and is currently hunting in south Texas.

 

"Josh is the complete package, both mentally and physically, and he is still growing in his development," stated former Spring baseball coach Humphreys (now the Assistant Athletic Director of Spring ISD). " We saw the completeness at a young age and Josh has much more to obtain...he was completely handling the stars of the Giants, Cubs, and Yankees in the post season, ... he is still so young with less than two full years in the big leagues. The sky is the limit on his potential."

 

 

Another Marlins pitcher, ace set up man Chad Fox, is also from Spring. He played at Westfield High School under Coach David Laisch and at Tarleton State University. He joined the Marlins in August to strengthen their bullpen for the stretch drive. He was very effective, appearing in 21 games in August and September to help the Marlins make the playoffs. He threw 25 innings and struck out 27 batters. He had an ERA of 2.13 in the final two months of the season. During the playoffs, he appeared in 9 games, throwing 11 innings and striking out 9 hitters against the Giants, Cubs, and Yankees. He has previously played in the majors with the Braves, Brewers, and Red Sox.

The Marlins had another pitcher that went to HS in Spring TX on the roster this year: Chad Fox