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| Al Benton | |
|---|---|
 Benton, circa 1940 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 18, 1911 Noble, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| Died: April 14, 1968(1968-04-14) (aged 57) Lynwood, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 18, 1934, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 21, 1952, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 98–88 |
| Earned run average | 3.66 |
| Strikeouts | 697 |
| Saves | 66 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Alton Benton (March 18, 1911 – April 14, 1968) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePhiladelphia Athletics,Detroit Tigers,Cleveland Indians, andBoston Red Sox. The right-hander was listed as 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and 215 pounds (98 kg).
Benton is known for being the only pitcher to face bothBabe Ruth (in 1934) andMickey Mantle (in 1952).[1][2] Benton is also the only player to have twosacrifice bunts in the same inning, against theCleveland Indians on August 6, 1941.[3]
Benton was born inNoble, Oklahoma, a small town a few miles south ofNorman. In 1940, Benton led the American League with 17 saves. In 1941 he went 15–6 with a 2.97earned run average (ERA) (second in theAmerican League (AL)) in 38 games. He completed seven of 14 starts and got seven saves. Despite his 7–13 mark a year later, his ERA was 2.90 with career-highs in starts (30) andinnings pitched (2262⁄3). Benton was chosen for the AL All-Star team in both 1941 and 1942, and then missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Benton was discharged from the Navy in November 1944 and had his best year in 1945. He compiled a record of 13–8, a career-low 2.02 ERA, fiveshutouts, and 12complete games in 1912⁄3 innings. In a remarkable testament to the Tigers pitching in 1945,Hal Newhouser and Benton were No. 1 and No. 2 in ERA among AL pitchers. Newhouser'sAdjusted ERA+ in 1945 was 195 and Benton's was 175. The Adjusted ERA+ figures posted by Newhouser and Benton in 1945 rank as the first and fifth best seasons all time for aDetroit Tigers pitcher with at least 150 innings pitched. Benton pitched in relief in three games in the1945 World Series and gave up only one earned run for a 1.93 World Series ERA.
The rest of his career he worked largely as asetup man or as an emergency starter. A two-timeAll-Star (1941–42), Benton compiled a career 98–88 record with 697strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 16881⁄3 innings.
Benton died in 1968 at the age of 57 from burns he suffered when theLynwood, California, motel he managed exploded into flames.
