As we head to the start of the regular season, I’m taking a look back at three unique moments in Baseball history. These moments are often forgotten by everyone, except the most keen historians. Baseball fans should not forget these moments for they represent a bridge between our game's past and future. Part two features one pitcher who faced the greatest four sluggers in Yankee history.
Part 1: Unique moments in baseball, Jimmie Foxx edition
Bonus: Top 5 pitcher-hitter matchups of all time
Bonus: Baseball Card Generations: Mickey Mantle Edition
The greatest aspect of baseball is its history. The game provides transcending moments which can be compared by each and every generation. Baseball's most legendary team, the New York Yankees, have given history more than just a few landmark moments.
One moment can be found out of Noble, Oklahoma; the birthplace of former All-Star pitcher Al Benton. Benton had a solid major league career, going 98-88 with a 3.66 ERA in 14 seasons. He was a two-time All Star from 1940-1941 and led the Tigers to the 1945 World Series title. 1945 was easily Benton's best season, winning 13 games and posting a 2.02 ERA in 191.2 innings. However it wasn't Benton's entire career that's earned him a place in baseball history. Benton's place in history is forever intertwined with four of baseball's greatest legends; Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle.
Benton made his Major League debut with the Athletics on April 18, 1934 against the New York Yankees. The Yankees lineup that day featured both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Imagine being a rookie, making your Major League debut against the two greatest hitters baseball has ever seen? It must've been a hard task to overcome.
Benton only lasted 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits in an Athletics 11-5 loss. Ruth had one hit, a home run that day while Gehrig went 1-3 with two walks. At the time though, no one thought anything of this moment other than Babe Ruth going deep once again.
Fast forward to August 3rd, 1938 when Benton, now a member of the Tigers, again faces the New York Yankees. By this point, Ruth has retired from the game and Gehrig is in his aging years. The Yankees have a new star in outfielder Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio is one of baseball's brightest stars at the time and is looking forward to winning his third straight World Series. Benton came in relief during this game, going five innings, giving up three runs on five hits. DiMaggio went 3-6 with a double and two RBI. The Yankees won the game 10-7 in eleven innings.
Twilight was upon Benton in 1952. At age 41, Benton would be pitching in his final Major League season with the Boston Red Sox. On July 2, 1952, Benton and the Red Sox traveled to Yankee Stadium to face Mickey Mantle and the Yankees. Joe DiMaggio had retired after the 1951 season and the reigns were passed down to Mickey Mantle. It was Mantle's turn to lead the Yankees into World Series glory. Benton appeared in the 7th inning against the Yankees that day. He went 2.1 hitless innings and picked up the save in a Red Sox 5-4 win over the Yankees. Mantle went 1-4, a single, for the Yankees that day.
Though no fan may have realized it at that point, Al Benton achieved Major League history on July 2, 1952. He became the first and only man to face Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in a Major League game.
Many will remember Benton for his two All-Star appearances or for his 39-straight scoreless innings streak in 1949. However fans should never forget the name Al Benton because his pitching arm is a direct link between Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Despite never pitching for the Yankees, Benton has engraved himself in Yankees' history for eternity.
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