Beckert attended
Perry Traditional Academy in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1958. He was named All-City in baseball and basketball. He attended
Allegheny College, where he played
college baseball, graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1962. The
Boston Red Sox signed Beckert as an amateur
free agent in 1962. He was selected later that year by the
Chicago Cubs from the Red Sox in the First-Year Player Draft on November 26. He spent three years in the minors as a
shortstop, where he led the
Pacific Coast League in
putouts and
assists in 1964. Following the sudden death of Cubs second baseman
Ken Hubbs in
1964, the Cubs brought Beckert to the major leagues as their second baseman for the
1965 season. ending
Bill Mazeroski's run of five consecutive Gold Glove Awards. In 1969, he was chosen for his first of four consecutive
All-Star Games. He had his best offensive season in
1971 when he hit for a career-high .342
batting average to finish third in the National League batting championship behind
Joe Torre and
Ralph Garr. After the
1973 season, the Cubs traded Beckert, along with
Bobby Fenwick, to the
San Diego Padres for
Jerry Morales. Beckert was a
utility infielder and
pinch hitter with the Padres before being released in May
1975. He is an inductee in the
Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. ==Career statistics==