Doc Bennett
Encyclopedia
Elmer S. "Doc" Bennett was a minor league baseball pitcher and player, who later became a very successful minor league manager, leading five teams to league championships in 13 years of managing. He spent much of his career as a player-manager.
He later spent time as a major league scout.
of the KITTY League. He replaced Jack Herbert and was one of two managers for the Egyptians that season.
He would not manage again until 1928, with the McCook Generals
of the Nebraska State League
. He led them to league championships three years in a row, from 1928 to 1930, and a second place finish in 1931. In 1928, the team seized first place after ten games, retaining that position for the rest of the year. They finished with a five game lead over the second place Lincoln Links
. Due to his and the team's success that year, McCook led the league in attendance, and Bennett was named the All-Star team manager, along with three of his players.
In 1929, the team finished 6.5 games over the second place Fairbury Jeffersons
. Although many teams were negatively affected by the 1929 Stock Market Crash in 1930, the Generals ended up having their best season, finishing 17 games over the Fairbury Jeffersons. They posted a record of 85-34.
Over the course of his four year tenure as manager of the Generals, he played in 77 of his team's games, or about 19 a year.
In 1932, he led the Waterloo Hawks
of the Mississippi Valley League
to a losing record. He managed the Lincoln Links of the Nebraska State League for part of 1933 season before being replaced by Jack Hruska. After being fired by the Links, he served as a league umpire.
He didn't manage from 1934 to 1936.
In 1937, he took over as manager of the Norfolk Elks
, a New York Yankees
affiliate in the Nebraska State League (which became the Western League
in 1939). Although he led the Elks to a losing record in 1937, he led them to a league championship in 1938 and a first place finish in 1939, however the team lost in the first round of the playoffs that season.
The Elks became the Norfolk Yankees
in 1940. Bennett led them to a first place finish, though the team lost in the first round of the playoffs.
From 1941 to 1942, Bennett managed the Joplin Miners
of the Western Association
, another Yankees affiliate. He led them to a first place finish and a league championship in 1941, however they finished with a losing record and a fifth place finish in 1942. Thus concluded his managerial career.
from 1943 to 1949 and the Chicago White Sox
from 1950 to 1969.
He later spent time as a major league scout.
Playing career
His playing career spanned from 1920 to 1932, although he played in only seven of those seasons - he did not play in 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927 or 1931. He played in 160 games in his career, hitting around .253.Managing career
Bennett's first foray into managing was in 1923, with the Cairo EgyptiansCairo Egyptians
The Cairo Egyptians were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the KITTY League on and off from 1903-1950.The team, based in Cairo, Illinois played in the first Kitty League from 1903-1906 as the Egyptians , Champions and Giants...
of the KITTY League. He replaced Jack Herbert and was one of two managers for the Egyptians that season.
He would not manage again until 1928, with the McCook Generals
McCook Generals
The McCook Generals were a Nebraska State League baseball team based in McCook, Nebraska, USA that existed from 1928 to 1932. They were league champions in their first three years of existence, from 1929 to 1931. All league championships came while Doc Bennett was manager....
of the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
. He led them to league championships three years in a row, from 1928 to 1930, and a second place finish in 1931. In 1928, the team seized first place after ten games, retaining that position for the rest of the year. They finished with a five game lead over the second place Lincoln Links
Lincoln Links
The Lincoln Links were a Western League and Nebraska State League baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns from 1938 to 1939....
. Due to his and the team's success that year, McCook led the league in attendance, and Bennett was named the All-Star team manager, along with three of his players.
In 1929, the team finished 6.5 games over the second place Fairbury Jeffersons
Fairbury Jeffersons
The Fairbury Jeffersons were a Nebraska State League baseball team based in Fairbury, Nebraska, USA that played from 1922 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1930. They won their only league championship in their first year of existence, under manager George Segrist....
. Although many teams were negatively affected by the 1929 Stock Market Crash in 1930, the Generals ended up having their best season, finishing 17 games over the Fairbury Jeffersons. They posted a record of 85-34.
Over the course of his four year tenure as manager of the Generals, he played in 77 of his team's games, or about 19 a year.
In 1932, he led the Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks (baseball)
The Waterloo Hawks were a minor league team that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1969. From 1922 to 1932, they played in the Mississippi Valley League and in 1932 they were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. They played in the Western League in 1936 and from 1940 to 1942 they played in the...
of the Mississippi Valley League
Mississippi Valley League
The Mississippi Valley League was a Class-D minor baseball league from 1922 to 1932, and a Class-B league in 1933.The league began play in 1922 with six teams: the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, the Marshalltown Ansons, the Rock Island Islanders, the Waterloo Hawks, the Ottumwa Cardinals and the Dubuque...
to a losing record. He managed the Lincoln Links of the Nebraska State League for part of 1933 season before being replaced by Jack Hruska. After being fired by the Links, he served as a league umpire.
He didn't manage from 1934 to 1936.
In 1937, he took over as manager of the Norfolk Elks
Norfolk Elks
The Norfolk Elks were a Nebraska State League , Tri-State League and Western League baseball team based in Norfolk, Nebraska, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees ....
, a 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...
affiliate in the Nebraska State League (which became the Western League
Western League (baseball, 1939-41)
The Western League of 1939-41 was a low-level American circuit in Minor League Baseball. The Class D league was born when the Nebraska State League changed its identity after the season...
in 1939). Although he led the Elks to a losing record in 1937, he led them to a league championship in 1938 and a first place finish in 1939, however the team lost in the first round of the playoffs that season.
The Elks became the Norfolk Yankees
Norfolk Yankees
The Norfolk Yankees were a Western League baseball team based in Norfolk, Nebraska, USA that played from 1940 to 1941. They were affiliated with the New York Yankees.Jim Dyck is the only know major leaguer to play for the team....
in 1940. Bennett led them to a first place finish, though the team lost in the first round of the playoffs.
From 1941 to 1942, Bennett managed the Joplin Miners
Joplin Miners
The Joplin Miners were a baseball team that lasted on and off from 1902 to 1953. They played in Joplin, Missouri. Initially, the team was known as the Colts before changing to Miners during the first season of play....
of the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
, another Yankees affiliate. He led them to a first place finish and a league championship in 1941, however they finished with a losing record and a fifth place finish in 1942. Thus concluded his managerial career.
Scouting career
Bennett scouted for the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
from 1943 to 1949 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...
from 1950 to 1969.