Garry Beard ranks as one of the finest hitters and defensive players in the history of the Westfield State baseball program. Beard still holds the school record for career batting average for those who played at least three years at Westfield State. Beard batted .387 during a four-year stretch that began in 1975, and set a then single-season school record by hitting .434 during his senior year in 1978. He also set a school record with 10 doubles that season. He finished his fine four-year career with a .593 slugging percentage and 12 home runs. 

The Winchester, Mass., native batted .393 during his junior year and led the Owls with a .617 slugging percentage. He was named to the All-Tournament team in 1977 when Westfield advanced to the championship game of the NCAA New England Regional Tournament. He received the Westfield State baseball Outstanding Contributor Award in 1978. 

Beard’s outstanding offensive accomplishments were equaled or even surpassed by his defensive prowess. The slick-fielding first baseman committed fewer than 10 errors in four years and has long been considered Westfield State’s best defensive first baseman. 

During and following his Westfield State playing days, Beard displayed his baseball talents in the Tri-County League for 17 years and represented several Holyoke-based teams in All-Star games. 

Beard majored in physical education at Westfield State and received a master’s degree in education from Springfield College in 1981. He works throughout Connecticut as a sales manager representative for Coram Health Care Home Infusion. He resides in Amherst, Mass., with his wife, Doreen, and daughters Rachel (11) and Meredith (9).