Many major league baseball players compete
their entire career without getting a chance to play in the World
Series. But because of his skill as a relief pitcher, Joe Beggs had the unique experience of playing for the winning team
in different leagues in two successive series. Joe starred in
football, baseball, and track at Aliquippa High School. Joe was a
football track star at Geneva College and won the state javelin
title there before graduating in 1933 (Geneva had no baseball team
then). After four years in the minors, the crafty right handed Joe
started his major league career with the Yankees in 1938. Joe then pitched for the New York Yankees in the 1939 Series when
they swept the Cincinnati Reds in four straight games. After that
season, he was traded to the Reds and pitched for them in the 1940
World Series as they beat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, four games to three.
Joe played with the Reds from 1940 to 1944, then served two years in
the Navy. After the war, he pitched for Cincinnati in 1946 and 1947
and then finished his career by pitching two seasons for the New
York Giants. His lifetime earned run average was 2.96.
Many major league baseball players compete
their entire career without getting a chance to play in the World
Series. But because of his skill as a relief pitcher, Joe Beggs had the unique experience of playing for the winning team
in different leagues in two successive series. Joe starred in
football, baseball, and track at Aliquippa High School. Joe was a
football track star at Geneva College and won the state javelin
title there before graduating in 1933 (Geneva had no baseball team
then). After four years in the minors, the crafty right handed Joe
started his major league career with the Yankees in 1938. Joe then pitched for the New York Yankees in the 1939 Series when
they swept the Cincinnati Reds in four straight games. After that
season, he was traded to the Reds and pitched for them in the 1940
World Series as they beat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, four games to three.
Joe played with the Reds from 1940 to 1944, then served two years in
the Navy. After the war, he pitched for Cincinnati in 1946 and 1947
and then finished his career by pitching two seasons for the New
York Giants. His lifetime earned run average was 2.96.