Ben Davis (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Mark Christopher "Ben" Davis (born March 10, 1977 in Chester, Pennsylvania
) is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. Davis began his career as a promising catcher
, but converted to a pitcher in . He currently is the Philadelphia Phillies pre and post game analyst and lives with his wife, son, and daughter in West Chester, Pennsylvania
.
He has played for the San Diego Padres
, Seattle Mariners
and the Chicago White Sox
at the Major League level. He was nicknamed Big Ben during his time in Seattle
because of his tall stature. Davis was once a highly touted prospect in the Padres' organization but has bounced around the Minor Leagues
since .
. He batted .514, going 36 for 70 with six home runs and 37 RBIs as a senior. He ranked as the second-best prospect by Baseball America
in the 1995 draft. He was also tabbed by the same publication as being the Best Defensive Catcher and the high school player closest to the majors.
by the San Diego Padres
out of Malvern Preparatory School
in Malvern, Pennsylvania
. USA Today
called him the best high school catcher since Dale Murphy
in . Davis was named to the Pioneer League All-Star team in his first professional season with the Advanced-Rookie Idaho Falls Braves in .
In he was limited to designated hitter duties for the first month of the season with Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
due to a sore right elbow. He threw out 25 of 98 attempted basestealers. He also spent the season at Rancho Cucamonga throwing out 59 of 159 attempted basestealers.
His contract was purchased from the Double-A Mobile BayBears
on September 19, . He made his major-league debut with the Padres as a defensive replacement on September 25 against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. He reached on an error in his first and only at-bat of the season. Davis was named to the Southern League
All-Star team in his first season with Mobile. He threw out 47 of 83 attempted basestealers.
He spent the majority of the season with the Padres. He started 71 of 93 games for San Diego after being recalled on June 23. He collected his first major league hit on June 26 against the Colorado Rockies
, a single off Mark Brownson
. Davis posted first career four-hit game on September 15 against the Atlanta Braves
, including a solo home run off John Smoltz
.
Davis split the season between the Triple-A Las Vegas 51's and San Diego. He began the season with the Padres, appearing in seven games before being optioned to Las Vegas on April 20. He was recalled on July 8. He was placed on the disabled list in August with a strained left oblique.
on May 26, , as a member of the San Diego Padres. Starting pitcher
Curt Schilling
took a perfect game
into the eighth inning with one out when Davis reached base safely on a drag bunt to second baseman
Jay Bell
.
After Davis reached base, many of the Diamondback's players shouted obscenities at him for supposedly breaking baseball's "unwritten rule". After the game, Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly
called Davis' play "chicken."
Many analysts continually debate Davis' decision to bunt for a base hit being that the Diamondbacks were only up 2-0, which brought the tying run to the plate. San Diego's Alex Arias led off the ninth with a clean double
. Schilling completed the three-hitter for the Diamondbacks' 3-1 win. This game started a fierce rivalry between the teams, which included several bench-clearing brawls, that lasted for several years, but which has since dissipated.
and Alex Arias
to the Seattle Mariners
in exchange for Brett Tomko
, Tom Lampkin
, and Ramón Vázquez
. This trade, in large, disappointed the Padres organization because of their continuing failures to produce "home-grown" talent. Davis was a highly regarded top prospect.
Davis had a .998 fielding percentage in 77 games behind the plate and threw out 44 percent of would be base stealers in . He batted .300 with runners in scoring position, and was 6-for-11 with two home runs with the bases loaded. He also hit .294 with six home runs on the road as opposed to .216 with one home run at home. He batted .294 in the second half of the season, raising his average from .216 at the break to .259 at the end of the season. All seven of Davis' home runs came from the left side of the plate. He hit his first American League
home run and first homer of the season May 4 against the New York Yankees
at Yankee Stadium
. He had nine-game hitting streak from May 17 to June 6, going 13-for-29 during that span. He hit first triple of season on August 4 against the Cleveland Indians
.
He spent the second season with the Mariners splitting backstop duties with Dan Wilson in . Davis appeared in 80 games, hitting .236 with six home runs and 42 RBIs. He hit a go-ahead home run off Ricardo Rincon
to lead off the 11th inning April 3 against the Oakland Athletics
. He also tied a club record with three doubles on June 21 against his former team, the Padres.
with Freddy Garcia
in exchange for catcher
Miguel Olivo
, Mike Morse
and Jeremy Reed
.
Davis appeared in just ten games with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights
before being placed on the disabled list with a fractured finger on his right hand. He also fought through a right elbow injury and missed the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery
. He batted .242 with one home run and three RBIs before the injury. He was released after the season.
, Davis played for the Columbus Clippers
, the Triple-A affiliate of the Yankees and the Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees
He went 3-for-16 with a double, home run and two RBIs for Tampa. He played in 48 games with Columbus and hit .222 with six doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs. On January 12, , he re-signed and was invited to spring training by the Yankees.
and played well enough that he was signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in June. He was the assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas, the team he had played for when they were San Diego's affiliate. Davis hit .331 with six doubles, three triples, three home runs and 19 RBIs in 36 games with Camden and played in 36 games with Las Vegas and hit .218 with four doubles, a home run and 11 RBIs.
to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. Davis did not make the team coming out of spring training and was assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox
. Davis received a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides
. In 24 games with Bowie hit .227 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs, with Norfolk Davis hit .172 with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs in 20 games. He was released on June 14.
as a pitcher. He made his pitching debut on April 23 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs
tossing a scoreless inning with no hits and one strikeout. Davis injured himself on May 17, he never made a return. At the end of the season he was 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA with four saves in nine games.
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
) 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...
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...
. Davis began his career as a promising 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...
, but converted to a pitcher in . He currently is the Philadelphia Phillies pre and post game analyst and lives with his wife, son, and daughter in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
.
He has played for 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...
, 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...
and the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at the Major League level. He was nicknamed Big Ben during his time in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
because of his tall stature. Davis was once a highly touted prospect in the Padres' organization but has bounced around the Minor Leagues
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...
since .
High school
Davis graduated in 1995 from Malvern Preparatory SchoolMalvern Preparatory School
Malvern Preparatory School, commonly referred to as Malvern Prep, is an independent Catholic middle and high school for boys located in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It was started and is still run by Order of Saint Augustine...
. He batted .514, going 36 for 70 with six home runs and 37 RBIs as a senior. He ranked as the second-best prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in the 1995 draft. He was also tabbed by the same publication as being the Best Defensive Catcher and the high school player closest to the majors.
San Diego Padres
He was a first-round pick, second overall, in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
by 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...
out of Malvern Preparatory School
Malvern Preparatory School
Malvern Preparatory School, commonly referred to as Malvern Prep, is an independent Catholic middle and high school for boys located in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It was started and is still run by Order of Saint Augustine...
in Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2010 census. The main road through the borough is King Street, although the borough is also bordered by Paoli Pike on the south, and is near US 30 on the north. The primary cross street is Warren...
. USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
called him the best high school catcher since Dale Murphy
Dale Murphy
Dale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
in . Davis was named to the Pioneer League All-Star team in his first professional season with the Advanced-Rookie Idaho Falls Braves in .
In he was limited to designated hitter duties for the first month of the season with Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
due to a sore right elbow. He threw out 25 of 98 attempted basestealers. He also spent the season at Rancho Cucamonga throwing out 59 of 159 attempted basestealers.
His contract was purchased from the Double-A Mobile BayBears
Mobile BayBears
The Mobile BayBears are a minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major league club. The BayBears play in Hank Aaron Stadium, named after baseball's former all-time home...
on September 19, . He made his major-league debut with the Padres as a defensive replacement on September 25 against 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...
. He reached on an error in his first and only at-bat of the season. Davis was named to the Southern League
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...
All-Star team in his first season with Mobile. He threw out 47 of 83 attempted basestealers.
He spent the majority of the season with the Padres. He started 71 of 93 games for San Diego after being recalled on June 23. He collected his first major league hit on June 26 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, a single off Mark Brownson
Mark Brownson
Mark Phillip Brownson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Brownson played for two different ballclubs during his career: the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies . He made his Major League Baseball debut on July 21, 1998, an astounding 4-hit, complete game shutout against the Houston...
. Davis posted first career four-hit game on September 15 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....
, including a solo home run off John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
.
Davis split the season between the Triple-A Las Vegas 51's and San Diego. He began the season with the Padres, appearing in seven games before being optioned to Las Vegas on April 20. He was recalled on July 8. He was placed on the disabled list in August with a strained left oblique.
Controversy
Davis was the subject of controversy in a game against the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona 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...
on May 26, , as a member of the San Diego Padres. 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....
Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
took a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
into the eighth inning with one out when Davis reached base safely on a drag bunt to second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Jay Bell
Jay Bell
Jay Stuart Bell is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman who played for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets .He played his high school baseball at J.M...
.
After Davis reached base, many of the Diamondback's players shouted obscenities at him for supposedly breaking baseball's "unwritten rule". After the game, Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly
Bob Brenly
Robert Earl Brenly is an American former professional baseball player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. He played the majority of his career as a catcher with the San Francisco Giants and played half a season for the Toronto Blue Jays...
called Davis' play "chicken."
Many analysts continually debate Davis' decision to bunt for a base hit being that the Diamondbacks were only up 2-0, which brought the tying run to the plate. San Diego's Alex Arias led off the ninth with a clean double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. Schilling completed the three-hitter for the Diamondbacks' 3-1 win. This game started a fierce rivalry between the teams, which included several bench-clearing brawls, that lasted for several years, but which has since dissipated.
Seattle Mariners
In Davis was traded with Wascar SerranoWascar Serrano
Wascar Radames Serrano is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres in 2001...
and Alex Arias
Alex Arias
Alejandro Arias is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1992–2002....
to 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...
in exchange for Brett Tomko
Brett Tomko
Brett Daniel Tomko is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played for the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St...
, Tom Lampkin
Tom Lampkin
Thomas Michael Lampkin is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played in , -, and -. He is currently a cable FSN baseball analyst for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in AAA baseball....
, and Ramón Vázquez
Ramón Vázquez
Ramón Luis Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder. Vázquez has played with the Seattle Mariners , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Texas Rangers , and Pittsburgh Pirates...
. This trade, in large, disappointed the Padres organization because of their continuing failures to produce "home-grown" talent. Davis was a highly regarded top prospect.
Davis had a .998 fielding percentage in 77 games behind the plate and threw out 44 percent of would be base stealers in . He batted .300 with runners in scoring position, and was 6-for-11 with two home runs with the bases loaded. He also hit .294 with six home runs on the road as opposed to .216 with one home run at home. He batted .294 in the second half of the season, raising his average from .216 at the break to .259 at the end of the season. All seven of Davis' home runs came from the left side of the plate. He hit his first American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
home run and first homer of the season May 4 against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. He had nine-game hitting streak from May 17 to June 6, going 13-for-29 during that span. He hit first triple of season on August 4 against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
He spent the second season with the Mariners splitting backstop duties with Dan Wilson in . Davis appeared in 80 games, hitting .236 with six home runs and 42 RBIs. He hit a go-ahead home run off Ricardo Rincon
Ricardo Rincón
Ricardo Rincón Espinoza was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Rincón was a left-handed specialist who spent nearly his entire career as a middle reliever and setup pitcher. In his 10-year career, Rincón never started a game and only accumulated 21 saves...
to lead off the 11th inning April 3 against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He also tied a club record with three doubles on June 21 against his former team, the Padres.
Chicago White Sox
On June 27, , Davis was once again traded, this time from the Mariners to the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
with Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
in exchange for 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...
Miguel Olivo
Miguel Olivo
Miguel Eduardo Olivo Peña is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:...
, Mike Morse
Mike Morse
Michael John Morse is a Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman for the Washington Nationals.-Professional career:...
and Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Thomas Reed is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Reed graduated from Bonita High School in 1999, and went on to play college baseball at Long Beach State University...
.
Davis appeared in just ten games with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
before being placed on the disabled list with a fractured finger on his right hand. He also fought through a right elbow injury and missed the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
. He batted .242 with one home run and three RBIs before the injury. He was released after the season.
New York Yankees
For the season, after signing with the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Davis played for the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, the Triple-A affiliate of the Yankees and the Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
He went 3-for-16 with a double, home run and two RBIs for Tampa. He played in 48 games with Columbus and hit .222 with six doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs. On January 12, , he re-signed and was invited to spring training by the Yankees.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Davis was released by the Yankees April 1, 2007. In May 2007, he joined the independent Camden RiversharksCamden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
and played well enough that he was signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in June. He was the assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas, the team he had played for when they were San Diego's affiliate. Davis hit .331 with six doubles, three triples, three home runs and 19 RBIs in 36 games with Camden and played in 36 games with Las Vegas and hit .218 with four doubles, a home run and 11 RBIs.
Baltimore Orioles
In January , Davis was signed by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. Davis did not make the team coming out of spring training and was assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
. Davis received a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
. In 24 games with Bowie hit .227 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs, with Norfolk Davis hit .172 with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs in 20 games. He was released on June 14.
Cincinnati Reds
After his release, he again signed with the River Sharks and attempted to make a comeback to Major League Baseball as a pitcher. In November , Davis signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
as a pitcher. He made his pitching debut on April 23 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs
Charlotte Stone Crabs
The Charlotte Stone Crabs are a minor league baseball team based in Port Charlotte, Florida. The team are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team....
tossing a scoreless inning with no hits and one strikeout. Davis injured himself on May 17, he never made a return. At the end of the season he was 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA with four saves in nine games.