Mike Benjamin | |
---|---|
Infielder | |
Born: Euclid, Ohio, U.S. | November 22, 1965|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 7, 1989, for the San Francisco Giants | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 28, 2002, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .229 |
Home runs | 24 |
Runs batted in | 169 |
Teams | |
Michael Paul Benjamin (born November 22,1965) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1989 to 2000 and 2002. Before entering professional baseball,Benjamin played at Cerritos College and Arizona State University,where he was an All-American in his senior season. A utility infielder in the major leagues,he played shortstop in 375 of his 818 career games. His longest stint was with the San Francisco Giants from 1989 to 1995.
A 1983 graduate of Bellflower High School in California,he played college baseball at Cerritos College and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1985 but continued his college baseball career at Arizona State University instead of pursuing professional baseball. In 1987,his senior season at Arizona State,he had a .309 batting average,14 home runs (HR),and 45 runs batted in (RBI). That year he was one of four Arizona State players (including catcher Tim Spehr) named to the All-Pac-10 Conference Southern Division team by the Arizona Daily Star and to the Division I All-America Team by Baseball America. [1] [2]
Benjamin was a third-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants in June 1987,and by April 1989 he was playing for the Giants' Triple-A affiliate,the Phoenix Firebirds. He was said to be playing sensationally at shortstop but experiencing lower back pain. [3] [4]
Benjamin made his major league debut with the Giants on July 7,1989,and he played with the team through 1995,never appearing in more than 68 games in a season. [3] On June 14,1995,he tied a Giants single-game record with six hits. This was part of a stretch in which he tied the major league record for most hits in two consecutive games with ten,set a major league record for most hits in three consecutive games with 14,and tied another record for most hits in four consecutive games with 15.
In October 1995,Benjamin was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcher Jeff Juden and a minor league player. After one season there,he was granted free agency. He signed one-year contracts with the Boston Red Sox in 1997 and 1998. With the 1998 Red Sox,Benjamin appeared in a career-high 124 games and hit for a career-high .272 batting average. He ended his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates,playing there from 1999 to 2002 and missing the 2001 season due to injury. [3]
In 2003,Benjamin coached his son's Little League team from Arizona to the Little League World Series in Williamsport,Pennsylvania. From 2016–2017,he served as the manager for the Kane County Cougars. He was the manager for the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League in 2017–2018,and he became the team's bench coach in 2019.
Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel,nicknamed "Little Louie",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop from 1956 to 1973 for three American League (AL) teams,most prominently the Chicago White Sox. During his ten seasons with the team,he became known for his exceptional defensive and base stealing skills. A 13-time All-Star,,he made an immediate impact with the team,winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1956 after leading the league in stolen bases and leading AL shortstops in putouts and assists;he was the first Latin American player to win the award.
Omar Enrique Vizquel González,nicknamed "Little O",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career,Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners,Cleveland Indians,San Francisco Giants,Texas Rangers,Chicago White Sox,and Toronto Blue Jays. In Venezuela he played for Leones del Caracas. From 2014 to 2017,he was the Detroit Tigers' first-base,infield and baserunning coach. He was manager for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.
Jack Thomas Snow Jr. is an American former professional baseball player and television sports color commentator. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1992 to 2006,most notably as a member of the San Francisco Giants. Snow excelled as a defensive player,winning six consecutive Gold Glove Awards as a first baseman between 1995 and 2000. After his playing career,Snow worked in radio and television broadcasting. He has also worked as a special assistant to the General Manager for the Giants.
Richard Paul "Rooster" Burleson is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop. Burleson,who played for three American League teams over 13 seasons,was a very intense ballplayer. Former Boston Red Sox teammate Bill Lee once said of Burleson,"Some guys didn't like to lose,but Rick got angry if the score was even tied."
The following are the baseball events of the year 2002 throughout the world.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2000 throughout the world.
Michael Anthony Gallego is an American former professional baseball player and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an infielder from 1985 to 1997,most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics team that won three consecutive American League pennants and a World Series championship in 1989. He also played for the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals. After his playing career,Gallego served as a major league coach.
Donald Eulon Kessinger is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from 1964 to 1979,most prominently as a member of the Chicago Cubs where,he was a six-time All-Star player and a two-time Gold Glove Award winner. He ended his career playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox.
Nicholas Paul Punto is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,Minnesota Twins,St. Louis Cardinals,Boston Red Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Oakland Athletics. With the Cardinals,he won the 2011 World Series over the Texas Rangers. He has also played for the Italian national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic.
Jody Eric Reed is an American former professional baseball second baseman and the third base coach for the Miami Marlins. He played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1987 and 1997 for the Boston Red Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,Milwaukee Brewers,San Diego Padres,and Detroit Tigers.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1952 throughout the world.
Kevin Daniel Elster is an American former professional baseball shortstop. Known primarily for his glove,Elster broke a 42-year-old Major League Baseball record by playing 88 consecutive games at shortstop without committing an error.
Shane Lee Mack is an American former professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Royce Spencer Clayton is an American former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants,St. Louis Cardinals,Texas Rangers,Chicago White Sox,Milwaukee Brewers,Colorado Rockies,Arizona Diamondbacks,Washington Nationals,Cincinnati Reds,Toronto Blue Jays,and Boston Red Sox between 1991 and 2007.
Craig Barry Shipley is an Australian-born executive and former player in Major League Baseball. On 16 November 2012,he was appointed special assistant to Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers.
James Gordon Beckham III is an American former professional baseball infielder who serves as a fill-in sportscaster for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Atlanta Braves,San Francisco Giants,Seattle Mariners,and Detroit Tigers.
Antonio Llamas Perezchica is a Mexican professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder from 1988-1992. He is currently the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Christian Israel Arroyo is an American professional baseball infielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants,Tampa Bay Rays,and Cleveland Indians. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 220 pounds (100 kg),he bats and throws right-handed.
Robert Vernon Dalbec is an American professional baseball corner infielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats of the University of Arizona. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 227 pounds (103 kg),he bats and throws right-handed.
Marcus T. Hallberg is an American professional baseball third base coach for the San Francisco Giants. A former infielder. During his junior and senior seasons in high school,Hallberg did not strike out once. He then batted .362 in his three-year college career. In 2006,he was the toughest batter in the NCAA to strike out,at once every 36 at bats. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Hallberg in the ninth round of the 2007 MLB draft. He played five seasons in the minor leagues,before turning to coaching and managing.