Andy Benes
Encyclopedia
Andrew Charles Benes (born August 20, 1967 in Evansville, Indiana
) is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
. During a 14-year career from 1989-2002. Benes played for four different teams: the San Diego Padres
, the Seattle Mariners
, the St. Louis Cardinals
and the Arizona Diamondbacks
. His brother Alan
also pitched in the Major Leagues, and was his teammate in 1996-97 and 2000-01. He and his brother Alan attended Evansville Lutheran School
and Evansville Central High School
.
after playing college baseball at the University of Evansville
. Benes pitched well enough in his first year to make it to the majors and be named National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. Benes was an All-Star
in after a 15-15 season with the Padres, and led the Majors in losses
with 14 and in strikeout
s with 189 the next season. Benes finished third in the Cy Young Award
balloting in after a 18-10, 3.83 earned run average
season. After the 1997 season, Benes agreed to sign a 5-Yr / 30 Million dollar contract to return to the Cardinals. Unfortunately, the contract was signed after the deadline for players to re-sign with their 1997 teams. Benes would then have to wait until May 1 to re-sign Instead, Benes became one of the first players in Diamondbacks history when he signed as a free agent prior to the season and threw out the first pitch in the history of the franchise.
In a 2004 column for The Sporting News
, pitcher Todd Jones wrote that Benes had a habit of gritting his teeth when preparing to throw a slider
, a tell
that some hitters exploited.
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
) is a former 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...
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...
. During a 14-year career from 1989-2002. Benes played for four different teams: the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. His brother Alan
Alan Benes
Alan Paul Benes, , was a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for three teams over the course of eight seasons....
also pitched in the Major Leagues, and was his teammate in 1996-97 and 2000-01. He and his brother Alan attended Evansville Lutheran School
Evansville Lutheran School
Evansville Lutheran School was founded in 1971, as Evansville's first parochial Lutheran school. The school is based on the ideas and concepts of Martin Luther...
and Evansville Central High School
Evansville Central High School
Evansville Central High School outside Evansville or Central High School inside Evansville, is the oldest public high school in continuous operation west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its was established in 1854 as Evansville High School...
.
Career
Benes was the first person selected in the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
after playing college baseball at the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
. Benes pitched well enough in his first year to make it to the majors and be named National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. Benes was an 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...
in after a 15-15 season with the Padres, and led the Majors in losses
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...
with 14 and in 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 with 189 the next season. Benes finished third in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
balloting in after a 18-10, 3.83 earned run average
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...
season. After the 1997 season, Benes agreed to sign a 5-Yr / 30 Million dollar contract to return to the Cardinals. Unfortunately, the contract was signed after the deadline for players to re-sign with their 1997 teams. Benes would then have to wait until May 1 to re-sign Instead, Benes became one of the first players in Diamondbacks history when he signed as a free agent prior to the season and threw out the first pitch in the history of the franchise.
In a 2004 column for The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, pitcher Todd Jones wrote that Benes had a habit of gritting his teeth when preparing to throw a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, a tell
Tell (poker)
A tell in poker is a change in a player's behavior or demeanor that is claimed by some to give clues to that player's assessment of their hand. A player gains an advantage if they observe and understand the meaning of another player's tell, particularly if the tell is unconscious and reliable...
that some hitters exploited.