Mel Behney
Encyclopedia
Melvin Brian Behney is a retired American
professional baseball
player. Born in Newark, New Jersey
, Behney was a left-handed
pitcher
who had a five-game
trial, one as a starting pitcher
, with the Cincinnati Reds
of Major League Baseball
. He stood 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
Behney attended Michigan State University
, where he played on the Spartans'
baseball teams in 1967 and 1968 and was named all-Big Ten during the latter season. Cincinnati chose him with their first selection in the June secondary phase of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
, and Behney began his professional career at the Short Season-A level. In 1969, he won 14 games for the Asheville Tourists
, to finish one game behind the Southern League's
leader in victories
, Bill Zepp
.
The following season, 1970, Behney made his debut in the Major Leagues with one of the Reds' most famous outfits, the first "Big Red Machine" team that dominated the National League West Division race, winning by 14½ games, then swept the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the 1970 National League Championship Series
. In his debut on August 14 at Riverfront Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies
, he relieved
starter Wayne Simpson
in the fourth inning of a scoreless contest, but gave up five hits
and five runs
(three of them earned), and was pinned with the defeat in a 5–4 Philadelphia win.
Four days later, in his only MLB starting assignment, at home against the Montreal Expos
, Behney lasted 4⅔ innings and gave up six hits and five runs — but only one run was earned as the Reds committed three errors
behind him. The Reds could not overcome the five-run deficit, losing 7–4. Behney then appeared in three more MLB games that season in relief and surrendered only one more earned run in four innings. He did not appear in the postseason. In ten innings for Cincinnati, Behney gave up 15 hits, five earned runs, and eight bases on balls; he struck out
two.
After spending the full seasons of 1971–1972 at the Triple-A
level, Behney was traded to the Boston Red Sox
during spring training
in 1973 for pinch hitter
and utility man Phil Gagliano
and reserve outfielder
Andy Kosco
, who were valuable role players on Cincinnati's 1973
NL West championship team. Behney played one more season of Triple-A before leaving the game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. Born in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Behney was a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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 had a five-game
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
trial, one as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
of 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...
. He stood 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
Behney attended Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, where he played on the Spartans'
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
baseball teams in 1967 and 1968 and was named all-Big Ten during the latter season. Cincinnati chose him with their first selection in the June secondary phase of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
1968 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Los Angeles Dodgers laid the groundwork for their championship clubs of the 1970s with an outstanding draft...
, and Behney began his professional career at the Short Season-A level. In 1969, he won 14 games for the Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a minor league baseball team based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994....
, to finish one game behind the Southern League's
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
leader in victories
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, Bill Zepp
Bill Zepp
William Clinton Zepp , is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.Born in Detroit, Zepp was a "superstar" in high school but decided to attend college at the University of Michigan, "where he lost his velocity and confidence." He was drafted but did not sign on three occasions...
.
The following season, 1970, Behney made his debut in the Major Leagues with one of the Reds' most famous outfits, the first "Big Red Machine" team that dominated the National League West Division race, winning by 14½ games, then swept 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...
in the 1970 National League Championship Series
1970 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 3, 1970 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCincinnati boasted dual heroes in subduing the Pirates in the opening game. Gary Nolan, an 18-game winner during the regular season, pitched nine shutout innings to edge Dock Ellis...
. In his debut on August 14 at Riverfront Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, he relieved
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
starter Wayne Simpson
Wayne Simpson
Wayne Kirby Simpson , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1970-1977. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, and California Angels. Hank Aaron got his 3,000th career hit off Simpson.Simpson was 14-3 with a 3.02 Earned...
in the fourth inning of a scoreless contest, but gave up five hits
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....
and five runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(three of them earned), and was pinned with the defeat in a 5–4 Philadelphia win.
Four days later, in his only MLB starting assignment, at home against the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Behney lasted 4⅔ innings and gave up six hits and five runs — but only one run was earned as the Reds committed three errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
behind him. The Reds could not overcome the five-run deficit, losing 7–4. Behney then appeared in three more MLB games that season in relief and surrendered only one more earned run in four innings. He did not appear in the postseason. In ten innings for Cincinnati, Behney gave up 15 hits, five earned runs, and eight bases on balls; he struck out
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....
two.
After spending the full seasons of 1971–1972 at the Triple-A
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
level, Behney was traded to the 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"...
during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1973 for pinch hitter
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...
and utility man Phil Gagliano
Phil Gagliano
Philip Joseph Gagliano is a former Major League Baseball infielder from 1963-1974. His brother, Ralph Gagliano, also played professional baseball. He became a good utility player during his early career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs...
and reserve 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...
Andy Kosco
Andy Kosco
Andy Kosco is a former Major League Baseball player who was affiliated at various times with the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds....
, who were valuable role players on Cincinnati's 1973
1973 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 99-63, 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before losing the NLCS to the New York Mets in five games...
NL West championship team. Behney played one more season of Triple-A before leaving the game.