Al Benton
Encyclopedia
John Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
who played with the Philadelphia Athletics (1934–35), Detroit Tigers
(1938–42, 1945–48), Cleveland Indians
(1949–50) and Boston Red Sox
(1952).
In 1940, Benton led the American League with 17 saves. In 1941 he went 15-6 with a 2.97 ERA
(second in the AL) in 38 games. He completed seven of 14 starts and got seven saves. Despite his 7-13 mark a year later, his ERA was 2.90 with career-highs in starts (30) and innings pitched
(226.2).
Benton was chosen for the American League All-Star team in both 1941 and 1942, and then missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Benton was discharged from the Navy in November 1944 and had his best year in 1945. He compiled a record of 13-8, a career-low 2.02 ERA, five shutout
s, and 12 complete games in 191.2 innings. In a remarkable testament to the Tigers' pitching in 1945, Hal Newhouser
and Benton were No. 1 and No. 2 in ERA
among AL
pitchers. Newhouser's Adjusted ERA+
in 1945 was 195 and Benton's was 175. The Adjusted ERA+
figures posted by Newhouser and Benton in 1945 rank as the 1st and 5th best seasons all time for a Detroit Tigers
pitcher with at least 150 innings pitched.
Benton pitched in relief in three games in the 1945 World Series
and gave up only one earned run for a 1.93 World Series ERA.
The rest of his career he worked largely as a setup man
or as an emergency starter.
A two-time All-Star
(1941–42), Benton compiled a career 98-88 record with 697 strikeout
s and a 3.36 ERA in 1688.1 innings. He died in a 1968 motel explosion in Lynwood, California
, at the age of 57.
Benton is known for being the only pitcher to face both Babe Ruth
(in ) and Mickey Mantle
(in ) (Bobo Newsom
was also active - but never actually faced Mantle).
Benton is also the only player to have two sacrifice bunts in the same inning, which he did against the Cleveland Indians
, August 6).
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played with the Philadelphia Athletics (1934–35), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1938–42, 1945–48), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1949–50) and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1952).
In 1940, Benton led the American League with 17 saves. In 1941 he went 15-6 with a 2.97 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(second in the AL) in 38 games. He completed seven of 14 starts and got seven saves. Despite his 7-13 mark a year later, his ERA was 2.90 with career-highs in starts (30) and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(226.2).
Benton was chosen for the American League All-Star team in both 1941 and 1942, and then missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Benton was discharged from the Navy in November 1944 and had his best year in 1945. He compiled a record of 13-8, a career-low 2.02 ERA, five shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, and 12 complete games in 191.2 innings. In a remarkable testament to the Tigers' pitching in 1945, Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
and Benton were No. 1 and No. 2 in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
among AL
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pitchers. Newhouser's Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
in 1945 was 195 and Benton's was 175. The Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
figures posted by Newhouser and Benton in 1945 rank as the 1st and 5th best seasons all time for a Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
pitcher with at least 150 innings pitched.
Benton pitched in relief in three games in the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
and gave up only one earned run for a 1.93 World Series ERA.
The rest of his career he worked largely as a setup man
Setup pitcher
In baseball, a setup pitcher is a relief pitcher who regularly pitches before the closer. They commonly pitch the 7th and/or 8th innings, with the closer pitching the 9th....
or as an emergency starter.
A two-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
(1941–42), Benton compiled a career 98-88 record with 697 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.36 ERA in 1688.1 innings. He died in a 1968 motel explosion in Lynwood, California
Lynwood, California
Lynwood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 69,772, down from 69,845 at the 2000 census. Lynwood is located near South Gate and Compton in the southern portion of the Los Angeles Basin. Incorporated in...
, at the age of 57.
Benton is known for being the only pitcher to face both Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
(in ) and Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
(in ) (Bobo Newsom
Bobo Newsom
Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
was also active - but never actually faced Mantle).
Benton is also the only player to have two sacrifice bunts in the same inning, which he did against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, August 6).
See also
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
External links
- Baseball Library
- Al Benton at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...