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Rest In Peace Ernest J. "Ernie" Beck
December 11, 1931- December 12, 2024
Ernest (Ernie) Joseph Beck, Class of ’49
By: Ed Kerr, Jr.,’60 - originally published on the Alumni website in 2011
Ernie Beck,’49 was one terrific guy who always remembers his friends and is always available to be part of a grade school Basketball tournament to assist in judging and presenting MVP and Championship awards. He along with longtime friend, Paul Arizin, supported the St. Kevin Grade school (Springfield PA) Basketball tournament with their time; as well known celebrities for several years. Those who promote the annual tournament for grade school boys and girls basketball teams from parishes across Delaware County decided that this year they would honor Ernie Beck for his service to the community and for his significant accomplishments as a Basketball player at West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys’ and The University of Pennsylvania. The Award presented the 2011 “Dare to Dream” Award. The Award was presented both at St. Kevin Grade school Basketball Tournament and again at center court of the University of Pennsylvania’s famed PALESTRA before a recent Penn-St. Joe Basketball game in January. Ernie was thrilled and honored to be remembered. The following is a brief on one of the finest Basketball players to ever wear a West Catholic High School uniform. His history is legendary in Philadelphia Basketball circles. He played for Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary school in Southwest Philadelphia where he developed as a player and team leader. He then entered West Philadelphia Catholic High School at 49th and Chestnut Streets where he became a basketball star and graduated in 1949. While at West in addition to being a three year letter winner, in 1948 and 1949 he was the leading scorer in the Catholic League and named to the first team all Catholic, all City and all State for both seasons; yes Ernie’s 1949 Burr team won both the Philadelphia Catholic and City Championships. After four years at BURRLAND, Ernie enrolled at The University of Pennsylvania in 1949 where he quickly excelled and became one of the greatest basketball players in Philadelphia Collegiate history. He as awarded three varsity letters at Penn and led the team in his senior year to a berth in the NCAA tournament as a first team consensus All American in 1953. He was also an All American selection in 1952 and named first team All-Ivy-League in both 1952 and 1953. Among the many records he still holds at Penn are most points in a career 1,827, most points in a season 673 and most points in a game47 in the teams match up with Duke University in his senior year. Ernie was a first round Territorial draft pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1953 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He was a player to be reckoned in the NBA where he starred for 7seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors and then with the St. Louis Hawks and Syracuse Nationals. A highlight of his Professional career was to play a part as a member of the 1956Philadelphia Warrior NBA Championship team. Always a legend and always a gentleman he isthe epitome of the “Dare to Dream” Award and continues to be a Star shining brightly in the Greater Delaware Valley. Quote to the Children from Ernie Beck: “Be all that you can be”. “Your destiny is in your hands, your mind, your heart and your soul”. Believe! You can do it!–EB the “Dare to Dream” Award was established by Charles Hopkins,’70 and Joseph Casertano,’74.
Research for Ernie Beck
Story provided by John Tomosky,’63.
Another Article about Ernie
December 12, 2024
Penn Athletics Mourns Passing of Men's Basketball Hall of Famer Ernie Beck
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics (Penn Athletics), and especially the men's basketball program, was saddened to learn of the passing of Ernie Beck W'53 at the age of 93.
Arguably the greatest player in program history and one of the best players in Philadelphia's rich collegiate history, Beck—a lifelong Philadelphian—was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Penn Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
"In my opinion, Ernie Beck was the greatest Quaker of them all," said Steve Donahue, Penn's John R. Rockwell Head Coach of Men's Basketball. "A strong, large athletic guy who was kind to everyone he met. Ernie had amazing humility considering his icon status, not just at Penn but in the city of Philadelphia and the basketball world. I am grateful that we became friends over the last 10 years and I will miss him dearly."
A three-year varsity letter winner from 1951-53, Beck held the program's scoring record for a staggering 67 years, with 1,827 points. (When it was broken, by AJ Brodeur in 2020, Beck's standing as Penn's all-time scoring leader had lasted longer than that of at any other Division I institution in the country.) He also still holds the mark for points in a season (673 as a senior in 1952-53), as well as the two highest-scoring games in program history (47 points vs. Duke on December 30, 1952 and 45 vs. Harvard on February 6, 1952).
Beck also still holds the program records for rebounds in a career (1, 557) and season (556 in 1950-51); free throws made and attempted in a season (183-for-229, 1952-53); and scoring average for a season (25.9 in 1952-53). Beck averaged 22.3 points and 19.0 rebounds across 82 appearances wearing the Red and Blue, both program records, and he graduated having put up 81 double-figure scoring games—including 54 games with at least 20 points and 13 with at least 30—and 32 documented double-doubles (several box scores from that era do not include rebound and/or assist totals).
(March 4, 2020) QMH: An Appreciation of AJ Brodeur…And Ernie Beck
Penn had a combined record of 62-21 in his three varsity seasons. Beck's senior season, the Quakers won the Eastern Intercollegiate League title and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, losing to Notre Dame in the East Regional second round then defeating DePaul in a consolation game. (Beck scored a combined 47 points across the two games, played in Chicago.)
Following his collegiate career, Beck was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors as a territorial pick in the 1953 NBA Draft and was a member of the Warriors' 1956 NBA championship team. He played six seasons with the Warriors.
Beck is survived by his wife, Betty; two children, Ernie III and John; and two grandchildren, Jessica and Jonathan.
https://pennathletics.com/news/2024/12/12/general-penn-athletics-mourns-passing-of-mens-basketball-hall-of-famer-ernie-beck.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawHJlvdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeQocGKXZxbp34E4oducPi1CVvZRzAbyQ05qNshMgVm-lfKNaM9JMxF6FQ_aem_-JzUXRpMd2V6qK-apjO1Vg
For the latest on Penn men's basketball, follow @PennMBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.
December 11, 1931- December 12, 2024
Ernest (Ernie) Joseph Beck, Class of ’49
By: Ed Kerr, Jr.,’60 - originally published on the Alumni website in 2011
Ernie Beck,’49 was one terrific guy who always remembers his friends and is always available to be part of a grade school Basketball tournament to assist in judging and presenting MVP and Championship awards. He along with longtime friend, Paul Arizin, supported the St. Kevin Grade school (Springfield PA) Basketball tournament with their time; as well known celebrities for several years. Those who promote the annual tournament for grade school boys and girls basketball teams from parishes across Delaware County decided that this year they would honor Ernie Beck for his service to the community and for his significant accomplishments as a Basketball player at West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys’ and The University of Pennsylvania. The Award presented the 2011 “Dare to Dream” Award. The Award was presented both at St. Kevin Grade school Basketball Tournament and again at center court of the University of Pennsylvania’s famed PALESTRA before a recent Penn-St. Joe Basketball game in January. Ernie was thrilled and honored to be remembered. The following is a brief on one of the finest Basketball players to ever wear a West Catholic High School uniform. His history is legendary in Philadelphia Basketball circles. He played for Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary school in Southwest Philadelphia where he developed as a player and team leader. He then entered West Philadelphia Catholic High School at 49th and Chestnut Streets where he became a basketball star and graduated in 1949. While at West in addition to being a three year letter winner, in 1948 and 1949 he was the leading scorer in the Catholic League and named to the first team all Catholic, all City and all State for both seasons; yes Ernie’s 1949 Burr team won both the Philadelphia Catholic and City Championships. After four years at BURRLAND, Ernie enrolled at The University of Pennsylvania in 1949 where he quickly excelled and became one of the greatest basketball players in Philadelphia Collegiate history. He as awarded three varsity letters at Penn and led the team in his senior year to a berth in the NCAA tournament as a first team consensus All American in 1953. He was also an All American selection in 1952 and named first team All-Ivy-League in both 1952 and 1953. Among the many records he still holds at Penn are most points in a career 1,827, most points in a season 673 and most points in a game47 in the teams match up with Duke University in his senior year. Ernie was a first round Territorial draft pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1953 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He was a player to be reckoned in the NBA where he starred for 7seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors and then with the St. Louis Hawks and Syracuse Nationals. A highlight of his Professional career was to play a part as a member of the 1956Philadelphia Warrior NBA Championship team. Always a legend and always a gentleman he isthe epitome of the “Dare to Dream” Award and continues to be a Star shining brightly in the Greater Delaware Valley. Quote to the Children from Ernie Beck: “Be all that you can be”. “Your destiny is in your hands, your mind, your heart and your soul”. Believe! You can do it!–EB the “Dare to Dream” Award was established by Charles Hopkins,’70 and Joseph Casertano,’74.
Research for Ernie Beck
Story provided by John Tomosky,’63.
Another Article about Ernie
December 12, 2024
Penn Athletics Mourns Passing of Men's Basketball Hall of Famer Ernie Beck
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics (Penn Athletics), and especially the men's basketball program, was saddened to learn of the passing of Ernie Beck W'53 at the age of 93.
Arguably the greatest player in program history and one of the best players in Philadelphia's rich collegiate history, Beck—a lifelong Philadelphian—was inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Penn Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
"In my opinion, Ernie Beck was the greatest Quaker of them all," said Steve Donahue, Penn's John R. Rockwell Head Coach of Men's Basketball. "A strong, large athletic guy who was kind to everyone he met. Ernie had amazing humility considering his icon status, not just at Penn but in the city of Philadelphia and the basketball world. I am grateful that we became friends over the last 10 years and I will miss him dearly."
A three-year varsity letter winner from 1951-53, Beck held the program's scoring record for a staggering 67 years, with 1,827 points. (When it was broken, by AJ Brodeur in 2020, Beck's standing as Penn's all-time scoring leader had lasted longer than that of at any other Division I institution in the country.) He also still holds the mark for points in a season (673 as a senior in 1952-53), as well as the two highest-scoring games in program history (47 points vs. Duke on December 30, 1952 and 45 vs. Harvard on February 6, 1952).
Beck also still holds the program records for rebounds in a career (1, 557) and season (556 in 1950-51); free throws made and attempted in a season (183-for-229, 1952-53); and scoring average for a season (25.9 in 1952-53). Beck averaged 22.3 points and 19.0 rebounds across 82 appearances wearing the Red and Blue, both program records, and he graduated having put up 81 double-figure scoring games—including 54 games with at least 20 points and 13 with at least 30—and 32 documented double-doubles (several box scores from that era do not include rebound and/or assist totals).
(March 4, 2020) QMH: An Appreciation of AJ Brodeur…And Ernie Beck
Penn had a combined record of 62-21 in his three varsity seasons. Beck's senior season, the Quakers won the Eastern Intercollegiate League title and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, losing to Notre Dame in the East Regional second round then defeating DePaul in a consolation game. (Beck scored a combined 47 points across the two games, played in Chicago.)
Following his collegiate career, Beck was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors as a territorial pick in the 1953 NBA Draft and was a member of the Warriors' 1956 NBA championship team. He played six seasons with the Warriors.
Beck is survived by his wife, Betty; two children, Ernie III and John; and two grandchildren, Jessica and Jonathan.
https://pennathletics.com/news/2024/12/12/general-penn-athletics-mourns-passing-of-mens-basketball-hall-of-famer-ernie-beck.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawHJlvdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeQocGKXZxbp34E4oducPi1CVvZRzAbyQ05qNshMgVm-lfKNaM9JMxF6FQ_aem_-JzUXRpMd2V6qK-apjO1Vg
For the latest on Penn men's basketball, follow @PennMBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.
