Though not the most famous or successful of his teammates, Glenn Beckert was an integral member of the Cubs for more than a decade because he was the perfect “glue guy.” He held down second base on an infield that included Ernie Banks and Ron Santo, amassing several accolades that were far exceeded by the esteem in which his friends held him. According to a release from the Cubs, Beckert passed away Sunday morning in Florida at the age of 79.
“Glenn Beckert was a wonderful person who also happened to be an excellent ballplayer. He was a mainstay at second base for the Cubs for nine seasons from 1965-73, earning a spot on four All-Star teams and a reputation for one of the toughest at-bats in the league as evidenced by his low strikeout rate.