Jeff Banister
Encyclopedia
Jeffery Todd Banister is a former professional baseball
player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He is currently the Pirates the Bench coach. He spent 25 years within the Pirates organization as a player and coach in both the Pirates major and minor league system.
. He had only one at bat
in his Major League Baseball
career, which resulted in a base hit
. Subsequently, his career concluded with a perfect 1.000 career batting average
.
Banister was called up from the minor leagues on July 23, 1991, because catcher
Don Slaught
was injured and manager Jim Leyland
had him pinch hit
in the eighth inning
of that day's game against the Atlanta Braves
at Three Rivers Stadium
. Using Cecil Espy
's bat, Banister hit a ball from Dan Petry
and just beat shortstop
Jeff Blauser
's throw to first base.
Banister was sent back to the minors but eventually returned as a coach
and field coordinator. In 1993, he served as a player-coach
with the Carolina Mudcats
.
of the New York-Penn League in 1994. A year later he coached the Augusta GreenJackets
to the South Atlantic League
championship. From 1996-1997, he was the manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats
, however midway through the 1997, he was named the manager of the Carolina Mudcats, a position he held until 1998.
From 1999-2002, Banister worked as Pittsburgh's Major League Field Coordinator. He was then assigned the job of Minor League Field Coordinator from 2003-2010. In 2008, Banister became interim pitching
coach for Lynchburg when Bob Milacki
resigned from the position. Mike Steele then took the job from Banister in 2009. On August 8, 2010, Banister was named the Pirates' interim bench coach after Gary Varsho
was fired by the organization. After Clint Hurdle
was named manager, Banister was named full time bench coach.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He is currently the Pirates the Bench coach. He spent 25 years within the Pirates organization as a player and coach in both the Pirates major and minor league system.
Baseball career
Banister was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 25th round of the 1986 amateur draft1986 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
. He had only one at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
in his Major League Baseball
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...
career, which resulted in a base hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. Subsequently, his career concluded with a perfect 1.000 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Banister was called up from the minor leagues on July 23, 1991, because catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Don Slaught
Don Slaught
Donald Martin Slaught is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who had a 16-year career from to...
was injured and manager Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
had him pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
in the eighth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of that day's game against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
at Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. Using Cecil Espy
Cecil Espy
Cecil Edward Espy is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1983 and 1987-1993.-External links:*...
's bat, Banister hit a ball from Dan Petry
Dan Petry
Daniel Joseph Petry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , California Angels , Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox ....
and just beat shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Jeff Blauser
Jeff Blauser
Jeffrey Michael Blauser is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs from 1987 to 1999.-Career:...
's throw to first base.
Banister was sent back to the minors but eventually returned as a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and field coordinator. In 1993, he served as a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
with the Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
.
Coaching career
From 1994 until 1999, Banister served as a minor league coach in the Pirates' minor league system. He was the manager of the Welland PiratesWelland Pirates
The Welland Pirates were a minor league baseball team located in Welland, Ontario. The team played in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, and were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their home stadium was Welland Stadium. Famous players to play there include Tim...
of the New York-Penn League in 1994. A year later he coached the Augusta GreenJackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
to the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
championship. From 1996-1997, he was the manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
, however midway through the 1997, he was named the manager of the Carolina Mudcats, a position he held until 1998.
From 1999-2002, Banister worked as Pittsburgh's Major League Field Coordinator. He was then assigned the job of Minor League Field Coordinator from 2003-2010. In 2008, Banister became interim pitching
Pitching
Pitching may refer to the following:* Pitch movement of aircraft, ships, propellers etc.* Baseball pitcher...
coach for Lynchburg when Bob Milacki
Bob Milacki
Robert "Bob" Milacki , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues between and , mostly with the Baltimore Orioles.-Major league career:...
resigned from the position. Mike Steele then took the job from Banister in 2009. On August 8, 2010, Banister was named the Pirates' interim bench coach after Gary Varsho
Gary Varsho
Gary Andrew Varsho is a former Major League Baseball player, formerly serving as a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
was fired by the organization. After Clint Hurdle
Clint Hurdle
Clinton Merrick Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball outfielder whose 10-year career was spent with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring from playing baseball, Hurdle became a manager...
was named manager, Banister was named full time bench coach.