Joe Beggs

Joseph Stanley Beggs (November 4, 1910 – July 19, 1983), nicknamed "Fireman", was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played for the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants of Major League Baseball. With the Reds, he was a member of the 1940 World Series champions. After his retirement from baseball, Beggs became the superintendent of prisons for Kentucky, and the director of urban renewal for Newport, Kentucky.

Early life Beggs was born on November 4, 1910, in Rankin, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, when he was young. He attended Aliquippa High School, where he lettered in football, baseball, and track and field. He also won the Pennsylvania state championship in the javelin throw in 1929. with a Bachelor of Arts. He went to Washington Generals of the Class D Pennsylvania State Association under Benny Bengough. In 1935, Beggs played for the Akron Yankees of the Class C Middle Atlantic League, and had a 15–14 win–loss record in 41 games pitched. and he won 22 games. He had a 12–3 record and 2.00 ERA in 37 games pitched for the Reds, all of them but one as a relief pitcher, as the Reds won the 1940 World Series. He earned the nickname "Fireman" for his ability to "put out a threatening blaze" on the basepaths. Beggs continued to play as a relief pitcher from 1941 through 1943,

Beggs made one appearance for the Reds during the 1944 season, as a starting pitcher, before his career was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the United States Navy as a lieutenant. He missed the entire 1945 season. He returned to the Reds in 1946, and worked as a starting pitcher. He started for the Reds on Opening Day and won 12 games with a 2.32 ERA, which was the third-best in the National League. He started the season with an 0–3 record in 11 appearances for the Reds, and went 3–3 for the Giants, with a combined ERA of 4.58.

Later in May 1948, Beggs signed with the Yankees and was assigned to the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. In 1949, he became the manager of the Charleston Senators of the Class A Central League. Beggs managed Charleston for two years,

Personal life Beggs married Ann (née Yargates) of Aliquippa in 1934. They had two daughters. Ann died after battling Lou Gehrig's disease. Beggs married Laura Royce Kerst of Indianapolis in 1974, and they moved to Indianapolis. Beggs spoke fluent Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, and Spanish; he also read Latin and studied French. He retired in 1970. Beggs has been inducted into the halls of fame for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Newark, New Jersey.