Ralph Beard, Jr.

Ralph Beard was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. He only played for 2 seasons for the Indianapolis Olympians. In 1951, he was named an NBA All-Star.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Ralph Milton Beard Jr. was born on December 2, 1927, in Hardinsburg, Kentucky, USA, and grew up in Louisville.

He stood 178 cm tall and weighed 79 kg during his playing career.

Beard grew up in a financially struggling household after his father left the family. His mother worked as a cleaning lady to support him and his siblings.

Beard married Bettye Scott in 1955, and they had two sons. After basketball, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry and lived a quiet life until his passing on November 29, 2007, at the age of 79.

High School and College Career

Beard attended Louisville Male High School before joining the University of Kentucky from 1945 to 1949.

At Kentucky, he was a three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1947–1949) and won two NCAA championships (1948, 1949).

In college, he played alongside Alex Groza, Wallace Jones, Cliff Barker, and Kenny Rollins as part of Rupp's "Fabulous Five," leading Kentucky to dominance in college basketball during that era.

He also represented the United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, winning a gold medal with the national team.

Professional Career

Beard was selected by the Chicago Stags in the second round of the 1949 NBA Draft but played for the Indianapolis Olympians instead.

Beard earned an NBA All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1951.

Point-Shaving Scandal

In October 1951, Beard's career came to an abrupt end when he was implicated in a point-shaving scandal involving bribes during his college years at Kentucky. Along with teammates Groza and Dale Barnstable, Beard admitted to accepting $700 but denied intentionally altering game outcomes.

Despite this denial, NBA Commissioner Maurice Podoloff banned all three players for life from the league.

The scandal deeply affected Beard's life and reputation. He later described it as a "death penalty" for someone who loved basketball as much as he did.

Following his ban from professional basketball, Beard worked in the pharmaceutical industry and occasionally scouted for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA.

He also attempted to play professional baseball but faced restrictions due to his gambling-related ban.

In later years, Beard began to receive some recognition for his contributions to basketball.

He was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and had his jersey retired by the University of Kentucky.

Career Highlights:

• 1948, 1949 - NCAA Champion
• 1947-1949 - Consensus First-Team All-American
• 1948 - Gold Medalist – Summer Olympics
• 1951 - NBA All-Star
• 1951 - All-NBA First Team

Medal Record, Men's Basketball Representing the United States

• Gold - 1948 Summer Olympics London