He covered ice hockey and baseball for The News Journal in the late 1970s, then became one of the original writers for USA Today in 1982.

He was credited by The Washington Post for establishing a network to gather information, for writing columns that discussed prospect talent for each major league team, and for giving exposure to many future star players.

[1] Sports Illustrated writer Jeff Pearlman described Beaton as a journalist who would not degrade a player just to get attention, and wrote "in a voice that was authoritative and oft-funny".

Hugh Roderick Beaton Jr. was born on September 28, 1951, in Augusta, Georgia, and grew up in the greater Wilmington, Delaware area.

According to Beaton, he was suspended from high school for "general insubordination", "organizing a one-day strike", and for "publishing an underground newspaper".

[6][7] Beaton stated that he became frustrated with the atmosphere in Wisconsin, when he participated in peaceful protests that were met "with fierce police resistance".

[11] He reported on local high school sports then regularly wrote hockey columns on the Philadelphia Flyers.

He annually attended and reported on spring training, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the World Series.

[1] He was credited by The Washington Post journalist Matt Schudel for establishing a network to gather information, for writing columns that discussed prospect talent for each major league team, and for giving many future star players "their first national exposure".

Bonds then waved a finger in Beaton's face and shoved him in the chest, when the incident was broken up by members of the team's coaching staff and front office.

[1] Beaton's wife noticed a change in his behavior in the mid-1990s, which included occasional violent outbursts, increased anxiety, and mobility problems.

[2] He had brain surgery three times since 2006, and moved to a nursing home in Arlington County, Virginia, as his faculties continued to decline.