News on Rod Beaton (includes update from Maria Beaton)

[Smasher_Sloan]

Some of you may be aware that Rod Beaton of USA Today has been ill for some time. I'm sorry to pass along this news, which was sent out by the BBWAA:

"I have some sad news to share on Rod Beaton. I spoke with Maria, Rod's wife, and she said he's terminally ill with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease. He's in a nursing home and is wheelchair-bound.
 
Rod wears a pacemaker, but his brain is gradually dying, and Maria thinks it might be a matter of months before he passes. He's already undergone three brain surgeries in a span of 18 months, and his body can't take much more."

I'm sure some people on the hockey beat know Rod from his days of covering the NHL, too. He's always been a friend to everyone, and it's just devastating to get this report.

I hope you'll keep Rod and his family in your thoughts.

[Colton]

Sad, sad, news. Best wishes to Rod, Maria and his family.

[Simon_Cowbell]

How old is he?

That's awful.

[sportsguydave]

Sad, sad, news. Best wishes to Rod, Maria and his family.

Amen. He and his family are in my thoughts.

[HejiraHenry]

A great man, a hell of a guy. I always enjoyed hanging out with him. Dang it all.

[BYH]

Jesus that's awful. Piggybacking on Cowbell, I wonder how old he is too...certainly seemed younger than someone who would have to go thru something like this.

I remember, in the days before the Internet cornered the market on fantasy baseball reportage, he used to self-publish a really comprehensive book every spring. Was really good stuff. Hope he and his family find peace in whatever time he has left.

[fishwrapper]

Aw, shit. Rod is good people and, man, did he love the game.

[Elliotte Friedman]

That's terrible news. Rod was very nice to me when I was starting out, and he sure didn't have to be.

He did a weekly radio hit on PrimeTime Sports here in Toronto for years, as a baseball insider. PTS is a huge radio (now simulcasted TV) show, and his segment was very popular. Unfortunately, they had to drop him, because he was difficult to understand. They didn't want to do it, but had little choice.

[jeff.pearlman]

Holy, how terrible. Rod is one of the nicest people I ever met covering sports, as well as a fellow Delaware Blue Hen. Just the worst sort of news. A wonderful man.

[Smasher_Sloan]

I believe Rod is 57. He and his wife have two sons in college.

[nattering nabob]

I hung out with Rod quite frequently covering baseball in the 1980s and early '90s. What a great guy, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep love of baseball. There was a time, prior to the advent of the internet, when he was one of the most prominent figures in baseball writing as USA Today's lead man. Everybody knew and respected Rod -- players, managers, executives. It's been sad watching his health deteriorate over the years, and this news is just devastating.

I also distinctly remember an incident in which Rod stood up to Barry Bonds in a manner that made him a hero among fellow sportswriters. I did a little Googling and found this 1996 article on the incident by Henry Schulman. This is the Rod Beaton I'm going to remember:

PITTSBURGH - Barry Bonds might be on to something. Fight
with a sportswriter, hit a home run.
   Before Tuesday night's game in St. Louis, he launched into
an obscenity-laced tirade against Bay Area writers whose
only crime was waiting in the clubhouse to talk to manager
Dusty Baker, and then he hit the game-winning home run.
   On Wednesday, no screaming, no home run.
   Then on Thursday, after he engaged USA Today reporter Rod
Beaton in a confrontation that led to some minor shoving,
Bonds hit his 15th homer.
   There is no truth to the rumor that the Giants have invited
Hannah Storm to sit next to Bonds in the dugout and ask him
about his divorce.
   If all of this sounds light-hearted, that's OK, because
Bonds said he was only joking when he approached Beaton
before the Giants lost to the Cardinals, 16-8.
   The ensuing conflict led to an eight-minute meeting
between Bonds and Beaton after the game, and a public
statement of protest by USA Today. The newspaper also said
it wouldn't file an official grievance and considers the
matter closed.
    "He never acknowledged it was over the line pushing me,
and he never apologized for it,"  Beaton said.  "I don't
want this to become a festering thing, but I want him to
know that players can't push writers. That's going too
far."  
   The incident occurred in the Giants clubhouse about 70
minutes before Thursday's game. Beaton was waiting to
interview Robby Thompson, who was chatting with four
members of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings who were visiting
the clubhouse. The writer was still permitted to be in the
clubhouse, which isn't closed until 45 minutes before
game time.
   Beaton said Bonds walked by and said,  "Don't be hanging
around our house."  Two minutes later, Beaton said, Bonds
came by again and hollered at Thompson to let him know that
Beaton was waiting, to which Beaton replied,  "Barry,
you're not my social director."  
   That's when things escalated, with Bonds putting his hand
on Beaton's chest as if to push him away. Beaton said he
hit Bonds' arm to move it away, but Bonds started pushing
him again. That's when pitching coach Dick Pole came by
and gently moved Bonds away, telling him not to touch
Beaton.
    "It was no big deal,"  Bonds said.  "It was just a
miscommunication. We get our butts kicked and that's what
you want to talk about? It was a big, huge joke, and he
(Beaton) got whacked out."  
   Beaton conceded  "it was not an Albert Belle kind of
thing. It never got vicious."  
   Baker said he didn't plan to talk to Bonds nor discuss the
incident.
    "I'm not going to answer for something I wasn't involved
in,"  Baker said.  "When you turn 21 years old you answer
for your own actions."  
   Bob Rose, the Giants' director of public relations, said,
 "The Giants certainly don't condone this action. It
clearly does not epitomize the relationship our players
have with the media." <

[Smasher_Sloan]

If any of Rod's friends would like to send notes or cards:

Rod Beaton
c/o Emeritus of Arlington
3821 Wilson Blvd. Room 213
Arlington, VA  22203

[Dyno]

Terrible, terrible news.  Rod was always a good guy when I dealt with him.

[Moderator1]

Awful.  Truly a good guy.   One of my most fond memories is of a dinner Rod and I shared in Atlanta during the 1993 pennant race. 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

I hung out with Rod quite frequently covering baseball in the 1980s and early '90s. What a great guy, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep love of baseball. There was a time, prior to the advent of the internet, when he was one of the most prominent figures in baseball writing as USA Today's lead man. Everybody knew and respected Rod -- players, managers, executives. It's been sad watching his health deteriorate over the years, and this news is just devastating.

I also distinctly remember an incident in which Rod stood up to Barry Bonds in a manner that made him a hero among fellow sportswriters. I did a little Googling and found this 1996 article on the incident by Henry Schulman. This is the Rod Beaton I'm going to remember:

PITTSBURGH - Barry Bonds might be on to something. Fight
with a sportswriter, hit a home run.
   Before Tuesday night's game in St. Louis, he launched into
an obscenity-laced tirade against Bay Area writers whose
only crime was waiting in the clubhouse to talk to manager
Dusty Baker, and then he hit the game-winning home run.
   On Wednesday, no screaming, no home run.
   Then on Thursday, after he engaged USA Today reporter Rod
Beaton in a confrontation that led to some minor shoving,
Bonds hit his 15th homer.
   There is no truth to the rumor that the Giants have invited
Hannah Storm to sit next to Bonds in the dugout and ask him
about his divorce.
   If all of this sounds light-hearted, that's OK, because
Bonds said he was only joking when he approached Beaton
before the Giants lost to the Cardinals, 16-8.
   The ensuing conflict led to an eight-minute meeting
between Bonds and Beaton after the game, and a public
statement of protest by USA Today. The newspaper also said
it wouldn't file an official grievance and considers the
matter closed.
    "He never acknowledged it was over the line pushing me,
and he never apologized for it,"  Beaton said.  "I don't
want this to become a festering thing, but I want him to
know that players can't push writers. That's going too
far." 
   The incident occurred in the Giants clubhouse about 70
minutes before Thursday's game. Beaton was waiting to
interview Robby Thompson, who was chatting with four
members of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings who were visiting
the clubhouse. The writer was still permitted to be in the
clubhouse, which isn't closed until 45 minutes before
game time.
   Beaton said Bonds walked by and said,  "Don't be hanging
around our house."  Two minutes later, Beaton said, Bonds
came by again and hollered at Thompson to let him know that
Beaton was waiting, to which Beaton replied,  "Barry,
you're not my social director." 
   That's when things escalated, with Bonds putting his hand
on Beaton's chest as if to push him away. Beaton said he
hit Bonds' arm to move it away, but Bonds started pushing
him again. That's when pitching coach Dick Pole came by
and gently moved Bonds away, telling him not to touch
Beaton.
    "It was no big deal,"  Bonds said.  "It was just a
miscommunication. We get our butts kicked and that's what
you want to talk about? It was a big, huge joke, and he
(Beaton) got whacked out." 
   Beaton conceded  "it was not an Albert Belle kind of
thing. It never got vicious." 
   Baker said he didn't plan to talk to Bonds nor discuss the
incident.
    "I'm not going to answer for something I wasn't involved
in,"  Baker said.  "When you turn 21 years old you answer
for your own actions." 
   Bob Rose, the Giants' director of public relations, said,
 "The Giants certainly don't condone this action. It
clearly does not epitomize the relationship our players
have with the media." <

they had history. leyland tried to ban beaton was from the pirates clubhouse in 91 or 92, i believe, for some unflattering story.

[cranberry]

Wow. I knew Rod's health had been deteriorating in recent years but I didn't realize it had reached this stage. Comfort and peace to him and his family...

[Drip]

Rod's been in bad shape for a while. Didn't know it was terminal. Bonds was a pussy back then and if my memory is correct, this feud dated back to the days in Pittsburgh. Rod was and is still the man. God's best to him and the family. He's a good guy and was always helpful to me and many others.

[Boomer]

This is Maria replying.  Thank you all for the read.  I'm printing it out and will read most of them to him when I see him next.  Rod will be 58 September 28.  He's actually doing well these past two weeks and is again eating (he was not for a long time).  But he can no longer read, has MLB channels on most of the time or ESPN, does not understand football, but knows and talks about baseball and hockey.  Predicts the Red Sox will not win the World Series this year, when I asked him what he thought of the upcoming Fall Classic.  No playoffs?  I asked.  Oh, sure, he tells me, they'll play, but they won't make it.  the Marlins?  Gives me that look:  fogedaboutit!  The Phillies?  Shakes his head on that and won't say more.  He can barely talk so that was amazing.  He can only walk a few steps before his legs won't carry him.  He is dying.  He doesn't know...but then again, he knows.  It could be weeks, or months, but it will not be long.  While he has revived for now, he could crash again and not get up.  Anyone wanting to know more is welcome to email me at maria.beaton@verizon.net or call me at 703-403-7663. 
To visit or send letters (don't discuss his disease.  Just tell him you wish him well and miss him):  Rod Beaton
Emeritus of Arlington, Room 213
3821 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22203
Your replies sent me way back to a much happier time and while it was sad to go there, it was still good to remember.
Barry Bonds was a big part of his life from time to time and Leyland too.  I actually had to tell Leyland to quit calling us at home or keep his calls professional as he was becoming abusive.  He pisses me off and that only made Rod pursue him as a story all the more.  Struck a nerve there! 
As for Barry, he turned out to be a major coincidence factor, a year or so after the locker room incident, which Rod, by the way, maintained was no big deal and he was becoming embarrassed at the attention.  A Barry Bonds foul ball one day hit Rod's laptop in the press box in NY and Rod was sent home as he could no longer cover the game.  His laptop exploded.  So instead of picking him up at the airport as we usually did, the boys and I (boys were 2 and 5), showed up at the Roslyn USAT HQ at the time and much to our surprise, Bill Clinton, as a presidential candidate, was in the building and came out to shake our hands and foot.  By foot I mean that our oldest, Kyle, was sitting on Rod's shoulders to get a good view of the candidate, and Bill Clinton came over.  Couldn't shake Rod's hands as they were holding Kyle's feet to keep him balanced.  So Bill Clinton shook Kyle's foot and said, "Hi, I'm Bill Clinton."  Kyle, totally unconcerned about who this man was, was delighted and replied simply, "Hi, I'm Kyle and I'm taller than you."  And he was, sitting on his Dad's shoulders.  That got a chuckle as only a small child can spontaneously create. 
Many years later, as Rod was looking worse and worse with Parkinson's, and on his last baseball season, so that was 2002 or 3 or 4, was stuck in a couch and could not get up.  No one noticed he was struggling to get up from the couch until Barry Bonds walked by and said, "You need some help?"  And he gave Rod a good pull and helped him up, then looked at him a little more closely and remarked, "You don't look too good.  What's wrong?"  When Rod told him he had Parkinson's, Barry shook his head and told him, "That sucks.  I'm sorry."  And Rod told me he meant it.  I refused to believe Barry could be that nice spontaneously, but Rod was adamant that Barry has a heart and showed it.  He was visibly touched by Barry's gesture. 
Your stories of Rod are great.  It will do him a lot of good to remember along with you.  Thank you.
Maria

[Elliotte Friedman]

This topic just got stickied for awhile.

Maria, please keep up updated. Thank you.

[Steak Snabler]

Wow. Terrible news.

Never met Rod personally, but his USA Today columns, notes and features were a must-read back for me back when that was one of the few places a rural Mississippi boy could get in-depth national baseball news.

[imjustagirl]

Maria,

My best to you, your children and Rod in this difficult time. Thank you for taking the time to come here and post.

[Drip]

Maria, I've never had the honor of meeting you but I must say that Rod has a great companion by his side. My prayers are with all of you in this very difficult time.

[Boomer]

Thanks.  Take all of what you have written and how much you miss him and multiply it I don't know...just multiply!  And it will never be enough to measure the emptiness I feel.  I don't listen to ballgames anymore.  It just doesn't have the same flavor, even on the radio.  And hockey games are just as bad.  Many years ago, in the Fall and Winter, Rod took me out on dates to the Spectrum in Philadelphia while he covered the Flyers and in the summer, it was Memorial Stadium and the Orioles.  I would sit by myself in the stands and he would come as often as he could and keep me company then go back to the press box.  I always had a great time.  I favored the end zones at hockey games, better eye view in my opinion and he never understood that.  After the games, I would head to the car and wait while he got his quotes and finished his game story.  We never had a traffic problem leaving so long after the game.  I never knew anyone like him and knew I never would again.  I had the chance to go to NY and work as a translator for the UN but I turned it down, knowing I would regret leaving Rod.  It was a choice I have never regretted. 
I knew he was well known and well liked but he never let it go to his head.  We lived in the same little starter home in Arlington for 23 years, until it became too dangerous for him.  And every summer, on the way to the beach, we had to stop on the side of the road while he made his radio spot for the week.  He cooked a mean chilli and I have picked up the skill, and I don't even like chilli!  I wish I could duplicate his stir fry but he always threw the spices together and never wrote it down. 
As you knew him, he was much the same at home, until about 10 years ago, when things started to go weird.  But still, there are moments when Rod is Rod again.  His booming voice may be gone, but his ability to joke, bad jokes too, comes up once in a while.  I get it, but the attendants don't and Rod smiles that Cheshire Cat smile and I can walk to my car and go home smiling. 

[Sam Mills 51]

I truly sympathize with this family is every way imaginable. My best to Rod, Maria and everyone else involved.

[ballwriter]

When I was starting out in the ballwriting business more than 20 years ago, Rod was one of the first big-name writers I got to know and he treated me like I was a big-timer instead of just some kid from a small paper. We became friends over the years and I always enjoyed seeing him at various points in the season. He is a great guy and this is terrible news. Rod, Maria and the kids are in my prayers.