Todd Benzinger passes away at age 63
Former baseball player Todd Benzinger, who secured the championship by catching the final out in the Cincinnati Reds' 1990 World Series victory, has passed away at the age of 63. His cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Todd Benzinger, the former first baseman who made history by catching the final out of the game when the Cincinnati Reds won the 1990 World Series against the Oakland Athletics, has passed away at age 63.
Born in Cincinnati, Benzinger began his professional career after being selected by the Boston Red Sox in 1981. After playing two seasons in Boston, he was traded prior to the 1989 season to his hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds. The most unforgettable moment of his career came on October 20, 1990, during the game against the Oakland Athletics where the Reds clinched the championship, with his final catch in foul territory.
Traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1991, Benzinger retired after the 1995 season. He concluded his nine-year major league career with statistics of a .257 batting average, 733 hits, and 376 RBIs across 924 games. Maintaining his connection to baseball after retirement, Benzinger managed the Reds' Class-A affiliate, the Dayton Dragons, between 2009 and 2010.
The Cincinnati Reds club published a condolence message upon the passing of their former player, emphasizing Benzinger's significant place in club history. Reds Hall of Fame and Museum Executive Director Rick Walls stated that Benzinger will be remembered not only for his championship moment but also through personal memories for those who knew him.
Sources
- foxnews.com · Link