Lafayette College Athletics

Following a stellar freshman season on the baseball diamond in which he led the Leopards to a flawless 11-0 mark, Van Der Beek's resume continued to grow. Van Der Beek '72 was named Lafayette's Most Valuable Player and First Team Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) West Section from 1970-72. Van Der Beek picked up MAC West Section MVP in both 1971 and 1972. The year 1970 was also a banner season for Van Der Beek, as he ranked fifth in the nation averaging 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Van Der Beek's imprint remains intact in the Lafayette record books more than three decades later. He is tied for the Lafayette record with 20 career wins, while holding sole possession of the career strikeout record with 320. Van Der Beek ranks second all-time with 236.2 innings pitched and owns the top three spots for strikeouts in a single season. Van Der Beek lays claim to one of 10 no-hitters in Lafayette history in a 2-0 win over Rutgers on April 18, 1972.

After leaving College Hill, Van Der Beek signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, advancing to Albuquerque, N.M. (AAA) in the minor league system. Van Der Beek married his high school sweetheart, Melinda, and when the couple welcomed their first child, Van Der Beek retired from baseball and took a telecommunications job with SNET in Connecticut. In April 2012, Van Der Beek celebrated his 35th year with the company, which is now known as AT&T.