Clem Beck Explained

Clem Beck
Fullname:Clement Henry Beck
Birth Date:28 September 1863
Birth Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
Death Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
Role:Opening batsman
Club1:Otago
Type1:FC
Debutdate1:20 February
Debutyear1:1885
Debutfor1:Otago
Debutagainst1:Canterbury
Lastdate1:23 February
Lastyear1:1891
Lastfor1:Otago
Lastagainst1:Canterbury
Columns:1
Column1:First-class
Matches1:7
Runs1:215
Bat Avg1:16.53
100S/50S1:0/0
Top Score1:48
Hidedeliveries:true
Catches/Stumpings1:2/–
Date:30 March
Year:2020
Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36410.html ESPNcricinfo

Clement Henry Beck (28 September 1863  - 11 November 1957) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played seven first-class matches for Otago between the 1884/85 and 1890/91 seasons.[1]

A solid, effective opening batsman in an era of low scores, Clem Beck made 48 on his first-class debut in Otago's victory over Canterbury in 1884–85. He batted for four hours.[2] [3] He played against a touring Australian side in 1886, part of an Otago side of 22 players,[4] and top-scored for Otago with 25 in their loss to the touring New South Wales team in February 1890, winning a bat in recognition.[5] [6] A month later, when Otago again beat Canterbury, he made 24 and 20 not out, the only batsman on either side to reach 20.[7] In another victory over Canterbury in 1890–91, his last first-class match, he was the highest scorer in either side's first innings, with 32.[8] He was later described as "a sturdy batsman, full of defence".[9] He played club cricket for Dunedin and Carisbrook.[10]

Beck also represented Otago at rugby union,[11] playing for the representative side 10 times between 1885 and 1888, including in the first match between Otago and Southland in 1887 and against the touring British side in 1888.[12] He played club rugby for the Montecillo and Dunedin clubs and was described in 1947 as having been an "outstanding forward".[13] He was a life member of Dunedin Football Club and the President of Ocean Beach Cricket Club.[14] [15]

Beck was the head tinsmith for the Dunedin firm Kempthorne, Prosser & Co. Ltd.[16] He married Barbara Alice Walker in Dunedin in March 1893;[17] the couple had four children.[12] She died at their home in the Dunedin suburb of St Kilda in February 1935.[18] Beck died in November 1957, aged 94.[1] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clement Beck . 5 May 2016 . ESPN Cricinfo.
  2. Web site: Otago v Canterbury 1884-85 . CricketArchive . 30 March 2020.
  3. [Tom Reese|T. W. Reese]
  4. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/21/21421/21421.html Clement Beck
  5. Reese, p. 282.
  6. Omnium Gatherum . Otago Daily Times . 26 July 1890 . 2 .
  7. Web site: Otago v Canterbury 1889-90. CricketArchive . 30 March 2020.
  8. Web site: Canterbury v Otago 1890-91. CricketArchive . 30 March 2020.
  9. Otago Cricket History . Evening Star . 30 October 1934 . 4 .
  10. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19561110.2.44.10 People in the play
  11. Cricket Notes . Lyttelton Times . 23 October 1888 . 3 .
  12. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19571112.2.44 Mr Clem Beck
  13. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19470626.2.8.6 Rugby veterans
  14. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19500302.2.80.4 Dunedin Football Club
  15. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19381005.2.111 Ocean Beach Club
  16. A Charge of Arson . Otago Daily Times . 16 August 1907 . 8 .
  17. Marriages . Evening Star . 15 April 1893 . 2 .
  18. Deaths. Otago Daily Times . 25 February 1935. 8 .