Tony Beasley is set for a weekend that brings two defining parts of his life into the same spotlight: singing and survival.
The Pirates’ third-base coach will sing the national anthem Friday at PNC Park before Pittsburgh opens its series against the Angels. Then, two days later, the club will take part in Major League Baseball’s league-wide recognition of childhood cancer awareness, complete with customized gear, local support groups, tributes and other acknowledgments.
For Beasley, the timing fits naturally. “We didn’t do that intentionally, but any time there’s something about standing up to cancer or raising awareness, I’m in that fight,” Beasley said.
“That’s something that I’m always gonna support. It makes [singing the national anthem to open the series] even better.”
The performance is only possible if his voice holds up. Beasley said he lost it at the start of the most recent road trip, but it came back toward the end of last week and sounded good enough during a Wednesday dry run.
“Your voice is like everything else,” Beasley said. “When I get home, I have to get my voice back in shape to sing every week in church.
In the season, you’re not really in your best form as far as singing is concerned. But I’ll sing enough to get through.”
This won’t be new territory for him. Beasley previously sang before a Pirates game in 2010 and did the same with the Rangers in 2017, ’19 and ’24.
He’s also fully aware that his players won’t let him off the hook if things go sideways. “They usually get a kick out of it,” Beasley said.
“They laugh. Maybe internally, some want me to do well and some want me to have a hiccup so they can mess with me forever.
It’s one of those things where you’re kind of putting yourself out there. If something goes wrong, you have to be willing to take what comes with that.
“But it’s all good. I don’t anticipate that happening. It’s just fun.”
Music has been part of Beasley’s life since he was 10 or 11. He sang in a traveling choir and still sings every Sunday in church during the offseason. His comfort zone is gospel, and when asked about favorite artists, he mentioned The Canton Spirituals and Smokie Norful, calling Norful something like a Christian John Legend.
But the bigger story is what Beasley has already lived through. A decade ago, he was diagnosed with Stage 3C cancer and went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. He was declared cancer-free that December.
Beasley said the experience deepened his faith and gave him a way to connect with others facing treatment. He’ll volunteer at events when he can, and sometimes he’ll simply reach out to someone directly and share what got him through.
“I went through it,” Beasley said. “I’m blessed that I got through it. … There was a lot that could have happened on my mind that didn’t necessarily have to be a positive outcome.
“I leaned on my faith, my belief in God. It was really a miraculous thing that happened in my body.
I’m clear. But I understand what it takes to go through the treatments and what have you.”
That perspective shapes the way he talks to players, coaches and anyone else around him. His message is simple: value what you have, care for the people around you and be willing to support others.
“Whenever I can encourage someone who’s going through it and help them get through it, to have a good attitude about it, that’s what it’s all about,” Beasley said. “I’m just grateful.
I went through it. It was an opportunity, not an obstacle.
“It was an opportunity for me to be who I said I was, as far as my faith is concerned and my walk with Christ. And also, it gave me an opportunity to see people in a different light, to really see support and love.
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