Former Pitcher Josh Beckett Arrested After Getting Drunk And Tackling Country Music Singer Onstage

Getty Image / Chris Trotman / Stringer

NEW YORK - MAY 18: Josh Beckett #19 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees on May 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)


There’s regular drunk and then there’s storm the stage and tackle a country music singer drunk. On Friday night, former starting pitcher Josh Beckett was the latter. The 37-year-old former MLB player was arrested for public intoxication after police determined that Beckett was “a danger to himself and others.”

Beckett, who won the World Series MVP with the Florida Marlins in 2003, was enjoying an open mic night at a country club in Texas with some friends. Suddenly, the pitcher ran onto the stage and tackled the lead singer of the country music band while he was performing. Beckett went full NFL linebacker in the running tackle, but ended up hurting himself. Police told TMZ that Beckett suffered serious injuries to his leg, arm, neck, and shoulder, including a torn rotator cuff and dislocated shoulder.

Beckett’s lawyer defended the pitcher by saying it was not an attack but rather an act of horseplay and he didn’t mean to hurt him. Reportedly, Beckett has apologized to the singer and is trying to make amends. Beckett played for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. No word on whether the San Francisco 49ers have reached out to Beckett to play DT.

[NESN]