Dave Beard was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics. He was born on August 2, 1959, in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended high school in California. After high school, he attended Pepperdine University, where he played college baseball.
Beard was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the third round of the 1978 Major League Baseball draft. He made his Major League debut on September 1, 1980, and played for the Giants until 1985. During his time with the Giants, he was primarily used as a relief pitcher and had a career record of 18-19 with a 3.82 ERA.
In 1985, Beard was traded to the Oakland Athletics, where he played for the remainder of his career. He was a key member of the Athletics bullpen during their championship seasons in 1988 and 1989. In 1988, he had a career-best season, with a record of 6-3 and a 2.41 ERA. He also recorded 15 saves that season.
Beard's career came to an end in 1989 when he suffered a shoulder injury. He attempted a comeback in 1990 but was unable to regain his form and retired from baseball.
Overall, Dave Beard had a solid career as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He finished his career with a record of 23-27 and a 3.83 ERA. He recorded 34 saves and struck out 292 batters in 427 innings pitched. While he may not be a household name, he was a valuable member of two championship teams and had a successful career in the majors.
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