Published: August 22, 2008 11:58 pm         

Legion baseball legend Beckham dies

Les Beckham, called by Enid Majors coach Bill Mayberry “the face of American Legion baseball in Enid,” died Friday of complications from a fall at the recent Mid-South Regional Tournament. He was 85.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home.

Beckham, baseball chairman of American Legion Argonne Post No. 4 since 1964, hit his head while into getting his truck parked next to David Allen Memorial Ballpark after games Aug. 15.

Mayberry said Beckham didn’t “want anybody to fuss over him’’ at the time. He has taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center that night for observation.

“On the way home from the accident, he was extremely sharp and our discussion very fluid,’’ Mayberry said. “It wasn’t until early the next morning that we found there was excessive hemorrhaging.’’

Mayberry’s association with Beckham went back to the mid-1970s when he pitched for Enid High School.

“He was a mentor and a father figure for a lot of us,’’ Mayberry said. “He really liked baseball, but more importantly, he liked seeing boys become men. You often see that during a summer of baseball.’’

Beckham, Howard Schafer and Delson Fitzgerald were responsible for making Enid the benchmark for programs in the state, Mayberry said. Beckham bragged about Enid having more state championships (12) than any team in Oklahoma.

“He’s irreplaceable,’’ Mayberry said. “Those of us who are fortunate enough to know him are blessed.’’

Beckham was named Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year in June. Mayberry said Beckham’s life was centered around the American Legion.

Beckham joined the Legion post after serving as an infantryman in World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a member of Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army in the winter of 1944.

His involvement with the Legion baseball program began in 1963 when he helped built some dugouts at Phillips-Failing Park. In an interview 36 years later, he said he was proud of the fact the dugouts still were standing.

“He wanted to be a service to veterans and American Legion baseball players,’’ Mayberry said.

Mayberry said he didn’t fully appreciate Beckham’s military service until his own father’s funeral.

“When they handed my mother the American flag, I understood what Les had stood for,’’ Mayberry said.

Beckham was on the committee that hired a 22-year-old Mayberry as the Majors head coach in 1982. He won the state title that season.

“He said, ‘Let’s see us do it again next year,’’’ Mayberry said.

Under Beckham’s tenure, the Enid Majors won 12 state championships, including their fourth in a row earlier this month and a Legion World Series championship in 2005.

Beckham, ironically was cut when he went out for the Legion team in 1939.

“He meant so much to that program,’’ said former Legion coach and general manager Duane Moulton. “I don’t know what the program is going to do without him. Legion baseball was his life. He made his life around the Legion program. He’s going to be missed.’’

Beckham manned the ticket booth at David Allen Memorial Ballpark since the downtown ballpark opened in 1999. He worked most of the 200-plus games that were played there from February to August.

Beckham also was a regular when games were played at Phillips-Failing Park.

“I couldn’t recall him missing a game,’’ Moulton said. “The only time I could remember him missing would be on Thursday nights when the Legion had bingo. He always told us to stay away from Thursday night games.’’

Beckham’s leadership, Moulton said, allowed Enid’s program to remain strong through some financially difficult times.

“He was involved with it because he loved it so much,’’ Moulton said. “There were years we had to scrape and beg to get enough money to get it done, but we always got it done. He would beat the bushes for donations.’’

The downtown ballpark, Beckham said, allowed Enid to go after tournaments it wasn’t able to get previously. The 1999 state tournament was the first event David Allen Memorial Ballpark hosted.

Beckham’s dedication to the baseball program was recognized in 2005 when he was given an Enid letterjacket and championship ring commemorating the World Series championship. He has been awarded several state championship rings as well.

“Legion baseball has been a big part of my life,’’ Beckham told the News & Eagle in a Feb. 18 article. “I absolutely get a thrill just to watch those young guys play baseball.’’

Beckham said in the article he never thought he would see Enid win a national championship.

In a 1999 interview, Beckham said the 1966 team, which finished third at the nationals in Orangeburg, S.C., was his favorite team.

Beckham saw two Legion players — Danny Thompson and Ray Hayward — reach the major leagues. In the February interview, he listed Buddy Plummer from the 1966 team, Thompson, Hayward, Todd and Scott Douma, Bill Vickers, Zach Berg, Tyler Fleming and Tyson Seng as among his favorite players.

“I hate to start naming players because there were so many great ballplayers,’’ Beckham said.

Mayberry’s favorite memory of Beckham was his relationship with his players.

“When you see 17- and 18-year-olds come to the front gate to visit with an 85-year-old man, you know he’s something special,’’ Mayberry said. “All the teams were special for him.’’