Todd Benzinger
Encyclopedia
Todd Eric Benzinger is a former Major League Baseball
first baseman
and outfielder
who played from 1987 to 1995. Benzinger is a graduate of New Richmond High School
in New Richmond, Ohio
.
Benzinger started his Major League career with the Boston Red Sox
in 1987. He would later play for other teams such as the Cincinnati Reds
, Kansas City Royals
, Los Angeles Dodgers
, and the San Francisco Giants
. Benzinger ended his professional playing career in 1995 after playing with the Columbus Clippers
, then a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees
.
He played the majority of his career at the first baseman
position, although he did occasionally play the outfield
.
As a member of the Red Sox, Benzinger is legendary for his clutch hitting during the Sox' 1988 "Morgan Magic" run, particularly his 10th inning walk-off HR on July 20, 1988. This has been called "The Benzinger Game" by some Red Sox enthusiasts.
Benzinger was a member of the World Series
winning Cincinnati Reds which saw Cincinnati sweep the much favored Oakland A's
in four games. Benzinger caught the last out in the 9th inning
of Game 4 to give the Reds a victory.
From 2006 to 2008, Benzinger coached the girls' basketball team at Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio
.
He managed the Dayton Dragons
for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was informed in October 2010 that he will not be returning for a third season.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and 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...
who played from 1987 to 1995. Benzinger is a graduate of New Richmond High School
New Richmond High School
New Richmond High School is a public high school located in southwestern Clermont County, Ohio approximately twenty-five miles east of downtown Cincinnati. New Richmond High School is a four-year comprehensive high school with a student enrollment of approximately 750...
in New Richmond, Ohio
New Richmond, Ohio
New Richmond is a village in Clermont County, Ohio, United States, founded 1814, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,219 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Richmond is located at ....
.
Benzinger started his Major League career with 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"...
in 1987. He would later play for other teams such as 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....
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, 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...
, and the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Benzinger ended his professional playing career in 1995 after playing with 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....
, then a minor league affiliate of 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...
.
He played the majority of his career at the first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
position, although he did occasionally play the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
.
As a member of the Red Sox, Benzinger is legendary for his clutch hitting during the Sox' 1988 "Morgan Magic" run, particularly his 10th inning walk-off HR on July 20, 1988. This has been called "The Benzinger Game" by some Red Sox enthusiasts.
Benzinger was a member of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
winning Cincinnati Reds which saw Cincinnati sweep the much favored Oakland A's
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....
in four games. Benzinger caught the last out in the 9th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of Game 4 to give the Reds a victory.
From 2006 to 2008, Benzinger coached the girls' basketball team at Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio
Loveland, Ohio
Loveland is a city in Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Considered part of the Greater Cincinnati area, Loveland is located near exit 52 off Interstate 275, about northeast of the Cincinnati city limits. It borders Symmes, Miami and...
.
He managed the Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was informed in October 2010 that he will not be returning for a third season.
Managerial records
| Team | |Regular Season | DAY Dayton Dragons The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000... |
2009 | 59 | 80 | .425 | 4th in MWL Midwest League The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort... East |
- | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY Dayton Dragons The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000... |
2010 | 53 | 85 | .384 | 8th in MWL Midwest League The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort... East |
- | - | - | - | ||
External links
- Minor League stats, Baseball Reference
- Stats at MLB.com