Cocaine Tied to Pitcher's Sudden Death

Police found cocaine in Rod Beck's home; widow confirms habit
By Joseph Fasano,  Newser User
Posted Aug 1, 2007 7:15 AM CDT
Cocaine Tied to Pitcher's Sudden Death
San Diego Padres pitcher Rod Beck reacts after getting the final out on Arizona Diamondbacks Carlos Baerga in this July 19, 2003 file photo, in San Diego. Police say they found evidence of cocaine and drug paraphernalia at the former major league pitcher home on the day he died. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)   (Associated Press)

Phoenix police found cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the home of former All-Star pitcher Rod Beck following his sudden death in June, they said yesterday. Officials found "large quantities of powder, crack, and rock cocaine,"  the Arizona Republic reports. Though the medical examiner has not released the official cause of death, Beck's assistant said he used cocaine daily.

"Rodney had a disease of addiction, and it stole him away," Beck's widow said yesterday. Beck, who pitched for the Giants, Padres and Chicago Cubs, among other teams, was a boisterous personality who sometimes partied with fans. In recent years, though, he championed charities, including an AIDS organization. Beck, who played his final game in '04, was 38. (More MLB stories.)

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