Tuesday March 26th, 2024
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Hall of Famer Tom Beall has passed

 

Hall of Famer Tom Beall has passed away on December 24th, 2014 at the age of 61.

Tom was a member of the 1980's all decade team, the All Time ASA 2nd team, and was player of the year candidate in 1981.

He was also on the NSPC All Time team.

Information provided by Mike Macenko and Steve Dimitry:

Tom was inducted into the ASA National Hall Of Fame in 1990 with teammate then Dick Bartel. Here are some of Tom's accomplishments.Won the ASA with Reed's Nuts in 1976, the ASA Super with Howard's in 1979, 80, 81, 83, USSSA in 1981, 82. Has won the NSPC with Howard's in 1979, and 1980. 

 


Tom Beall

 

 

 

One response to “Hall of Famer Tom Beall has passed”

  1. Sonny Harmon says:

    Macon lost a native son Christmas Eve. Tom Beall, or the “Ol’ Bellringer” as he was known in the softball wars, left us on that day. What a player he was. Six feet five inches and around 250 pounds, you did not want to be the guy throwing the ball up to the plate when he came to bat. He was probably the most gifted athlete I have ever seen and could have been the Georgia tight end of his era but the ol’ boy loved softball and hunting deer in the fall. Most people are aware of his athletic prowess but few knew him as I did. I knew him to be a big hearted soul who had this amazing ability to live in the moment. He genuinely enjoyed each minute of his life as it came by. His degree from UGA was in business and he had a shrewd sense of surviving on his own terms throughout his life, although his generosity could get him in “trouble” with friends. He was a master story teller and could have you “bustin a gut laughin” at a joke that was just not that funny. It was Tom, in that way that he had that made the story worth hearing. Some are born in the wrong century and it was that way with him. He lived in a log home near Macon, a town he loved and thought of as his own, and down on the river near Hawkinsville, his favorite getaway spot. Up at five or six most days, starting a fire in the winter, and taking care of his dogs were things you could count on with Tom and each day he awoke he seemed to be like a kid at Christmas, anticipating only the good stuff that was sure to come his way. He loved his wife, children and grandchildren and the outdoors was his home. I have seen him jump into the freezing Ocmulgee just to feel the cold and experience life in a way that was uniquely Tom. Nature was his god. His favorite song was probably “Country Boy Can Survive” by Hank Jr. And this ol’ boy could survive. He was an excellent marksman with most of his gun collection and adept at skinning any animal he had trapped or shot. He was also an excellent cook. You hadn’t had a steak, beef or deer, until Tom put it on the grill. Tom was a wild game chef if there is such a thing and could turn any wild game into a feast. He was always trying to get me to eat squirrel or a bird of some kind and it just never worked out. Tom was at home with just about anyone he met and would have them eating out of his hand in about two minutes. There was no one around bigger or smarter when he was in the room. And yet, he never let his size or intellect get in the way of being a good friend to those who knew him. I never saw him intimidated by anything or anyone. He had too much confidence for that. Over the last few years injuries from softball and arthritis took their toll and I’m sure he was experiencing a lot of pain. Still, when you showed up at his log home or the river cabin you’d see that big arm swing out, the grin a mile wide, and you knew you were welcome and it was time for a good story and all you could eat. Guys like this don’t come along that often and when they do they are sorely missed when they leave. So it is with the “Ol’ Bellringer”. I will always cherish the good times we had together and hope Saint Peter enjoys a good story and some deer stew. Heaven just got a little more interesting.

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