The news arrives today that Kris Benson has announced that he is hanging up his spikes and calling it a career. His was a career that spread over 12 MLB seasons with several teams that included 206 games (200 starts) and produced an overall record of 70-75 and 4.42 ERA and one bout with Tommy John surgery..Pirates fans well remember that Benson was selected by the Pirates as the overall #1 selection in the entry draft in 1996. He was an All-American at Clemson and a member of the USA Olympic Team that year. He was as "can't miss" a prospect as there could possibly be. Well, the above numbers that will forever define Benson's career prove that scouting major league talent and predicting future success is, at best, an inexact science. Fans of Stephen Strasburg and those hoping for great things from Jameson Taillon and Stetson Allie need to keep this in mind.
I have one memory of seeing Benson pitch in a game at Three Rivers Stadium, probably in 2000, where the Bucs overwhelmed the Cardinals and won by a score of something like 11-0 or 12-2. In addition to Benson securing one of those 70 wins that night, Jason Kendall hit for the cycle. Benson also was a late season addition to the North Park League champion Shoeless Joes in 1999!
Of course, Benson was also famous for the antics and publicity seeking behaviour of his comely wife, Anna. So, fair or not, The Grandstander must close this post with a photo of the lovely Anna Benson.
Thanks to Retrosheet, the game referenced above took place at Three Rivers Stadium on May 19, 2000. A crowd of 24,281 saw the Bucs beat the Cardinals 13-1. Benson pitched a complete game three hitter, gave up 1 run, walked 1 and struck out 11. Without doing any further research, I'll go out on a limb and say it was the best game of his career.
ReplyDeleteThe Pirates line-up that night was as follows: Mike Benjamin, 2b, Jason Kendall, C (he did hit for the cycle that night), Bruce Aven, LF, Brian Giles, RF, Kevin Young, 1B, Luis Sojo, 3B, Pat Meares, SS, and Chad Hermansen, CF.
How's that for nostalgia?!?!?!
Rick Ankiel was the losing pitcher that night as the Bucs put up 15 hits against three Cardinal hurlers.
Retrosheet crossed my mind when I read your original - and you did not let me down.
ReplyDeleteI have no memory of Bruce Aven or Mike Benjamin - shame on me.
GS lost its PG rating today.
The thing I remember about Mike Benjamin were the ridiculous sideburns he wore. Like you, I have ZERO recollection of Bruce Aven.
ReplyDeleteI think all the breast-augmented, porn-engaged skanks across the fruited plains might throw rose petals at the feet of the GS for the comely and lovely descriptors. I seem to recall seeing a picture of the Mrs. with some tats....real nice, ha!
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