Rookie-of-month Beckham looking ahead, not behind

So what did Gordon Beckham do shortly after learning he'd be named the American League rookie of the month Tuesday?

The 22-year-old third baseman put the White Sox in front of the Angels with a solo home run in the first inning off John Lackey. It was Beckham's sixth homer of the season but just his first at U.S. Cellular Field.

The way he has been tearing through opposing pitchers - Beckham batted .330 (32-for-97) with 10 doubles, 3 home runs and 18 RBI in July - many more memorable hits should be coming.

Another one came with two outs in the seventh inning, when Beckham ripped an RBI single to left field off Lackey, tying the score at 4-4.

But success with the bat is just part of Beckham's rising appeal among Sox fans. He plays the game with unforced pleasure and flair, and it shouldn't been too long before Beckham becomes the face of a franchise.

"We're dying for somebody on the White Sox to represent our town, I think," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We've got people, (Jermaine) Dye and A.J. (Pierzynski) and (Paul) Konerko. They did a little bit better stuff than he did. But I think this kid is young and I think the young fans we have now love him."

Guillen is not too crazy about the song that plays when Beckham comes to the plate: "Your Love" by The Outfield. But everything else appears copacetic.

"I think the stupid song they play when he hits is kind of a phony song, but a lot of people, when you look up, they're singing it," Guillen said. "You're not going to be popular unless you produce.

"Hopefully this kid can keep it up and make sure this thing doesn't go to his brains and to his head and all of a sudden he starts walking high. Make sure he's low-key."

Beckham understands his situation.

"It's good, but the one thing about it is it's in the past now," Beckham said of being named rookie of the month. "It's a good accomplishment, but we've got to play the Angels and that has nothing to do with last month."

With only 59 minor-league games under his belt, Beckham is making a rapid push toward becoming a major-league star.

"It's being around these guys, the older guys, and learning how they handle themselves and stuff like that," Beckham said. "And just getting comfortable in the league. It's not easy to come up and just automatically start hitting.

"It took me a little bit of time, but it's just being comfortable and not trying to press and do too much."