Herschel Bennett
Encyclopedia
Herschel Emmett Bennett (September 21, 1896 – September 9, 1964) was a Major League Baseball
outfielder
who played for five seasons. He played for the St. Louis Browns
from 1923 to 1927.
of the Western League
from 1921 to 1923. In 1922, he hit .370 in 161 games, and hit 13 triples
and 24 home run
s as well that season. At the conclusion of the 1922 season, the St. Louis Browns purchased his contract for $10,000.
, making his major league debut on April 19, 1923. In 1924, Bennett played in 41 games for the Browns with a batting average of .330. However, he suffered a broken arm, and was out for the rest of the season.
The next three seasons saw Bennett splitting time between left field and right field, backing up Ken Williams
and Harry Rice
. During the 1925 St. Louis Browns season
, Bennett played in 93 games and had a career high six triples with a batting average of .279. The following season his average dipped to .267, and then to .266. He played in the final of his 312 major league games on October 1, 1927, and finished his career with 13 triples, 13 stolen bases, a .276 batting average, and seven home runs. At one point during the 1927 season, he crashed into a wall while playing against Philadelphia at Shibe Park, which caused him to fall into a 36-hour coma and helped bring about the end of his major league career.
in 1928, with whom he played 111 games. Bennett became the subject of a feud between Browns owner Phil Ball
and commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
. Bennett claimed that his frequent moving in the farm system prevented him from getting a chance to play in the majors, to which Landis ordered Ball to put him on the major league roster or release him, with Ball. When a federal judge ruled in Landis' favor on this issue, claiming interference in private property, judge Walter Lindley also ruled that the farm system in baseball was legitimate, which is what Landis tried to avoid with this ruling on Bennett.
After baseball, Bennett went on to become the Commissioner of Revenue in Springfield, Missouri
. He died on September 9, 1964.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who played for five seasons. He played for the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
from 1923 to 1927.
Minor leagues
Bennett began playing baseball with local semi-pro teams during the late 1910s, then he started his professional career in the minor leagues, playing for the Springfield Merchants in 1920. He played with the Tulsa OilersTulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
from 1921 to 1923. In 1922, he hit .370 in 161 games, and hit 13 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 24 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s as well that season. At the conclusion of the 1922 season, the St. Louis Browns purchased his contract for $10,000.
Major Leagues
Although he spent most of the 1923 season with Tulsa, he did play in five games for the St. Louis Browns during the 1923 St. Louis Browns season1923 St. Louis Browns season
The 1923 St. Louis Browns season involved the Browns finishing 5th in the American League with a record of 74 wins and 78 losses.- Notable transactions :* May 12, 1923: Sloppy Thurston was purchased from the Browns by the Chicago White Sox.- Roster :...
, making his major league debut on April 19, 1923. In 1924, Bennett played in 41 games for the Browns with a batting average of .330. However, he suffered a broken arm, and was out for the rest of the season.
The next three seasons saw Bennett splitting time between left field and right field, backing up Ken Williams
Ken Williams (baseball)
Kenneth Roy Williams was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from to . Williams began his major league career with the Cincinnati Reds before spending the majority of his playing days with the St...
and Harry Rice
Harry Rice
Harry Francis Rice born in Ware Station, Illinois was an outfielder for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , Washington Senators and Cincinnati Reds ....
. During the 1925 St. Louis Browns season
1925 St. Louis Browns season
The 1925 St. Louis Browns season involved the Browns finishing 3rd in the American League with a record of 82 wins and 71 losses.- Regular season :...
, Bennett played in 93 games and had a career high six triples with a batting average of .279. The following season his average dipped to .267, and then to .266. He played in the final of his 312 major league games on October 1, 1927, and finished his career with 13 triples, 13 stolen bases, a .276 batting average, and seven home runs. At one point during the 1927 season, he crashed into a wall while playing against Philadelphia at Shibe Park, which caused him to fall into a 36-hour coma and helped bring about the end of his major league career.
Minors and dispute
Over the next few years, Bennett played with several different minor league teams, including the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
in 1928, with whom he played 111 games. Bennett became the subject of a feud between Browns owner Phil Ball
Phil Ball (baseball)
Philip DeCatesby Ball was the owner of the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League from through and the St. Louis Browns of the American League from through . Ball's estate owned the Browns after his death until , when the team was sold to Donald Lee Barnes.- References :...
and commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
. Bennett claimed that his frequent moving in the farm system prevented him from getting a chance to play in the majors, to which Landis ordered Ball to put him on the major league roster or release him, with Ball. When a federal judge ruled in Landis' favor on this issue, claiming interference in private property, judge Walter Lindley also ruled that the farm system in baseball was legitimate, which is what Landis tried to avoid with this ruling on Bennett.
After baseball, Bennett went on to become the Commissioner of Revenue in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. He died on September 9, 1964.