Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and first baseman Todd Benzinger died Wednesday at age 63.
Benzinger, a Greater Cincinnati native, is best remembered as the player who secured the final out of the Reds’ 1990 World Series sweep of the Oakland Athletics.
On October 20 of that year, he ranged into foul territory behind first base to catch Carney Lansford’s popup, clinching Cincinnati’s fifth championship and its most recent title.
He was a regular on that wire-to-wire National League West champions, platooning at first base with Hal Morris.
Born February 11, 1963, in Dayton, Kentucky, and raised in New Richmond, Ohio, Benzinger was a fourth-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox out of New Richmond High School in 1981.
He debuted with Boston in 1987 and went on to a nine-year major-league career that also included stints with the Reds (1989–91), Kansas City Royals, Dodgers (1992), and San Francisco Giants.
He batted .257 with 66 home runs and 376 RBIs in 924 games, making the bulk of his appearances at first base while also logging time in the outfield.
With the Dodgers in 1992, the switch-hitter appeared in 121 games, batting .239 with four home runs and 31 RBIs while seeing action both at first base and in the outfield.
His best offensive season came in 1989 with Cincinnati, when he hit a career-high 17 home runs and drove in 76 runs.
After his playing days, Benzinger stayed closely tied to the Cincinnati area. He managed the Class-A Dayton Dragons in 2009 and 2010 and remained active coaching youth baseball and mentoring local players.
He frequently participated in Reds community events, including the Reds Caravan, Fantasy Camp, Redsfest, and programs at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
“Todd will forever be remembered by Reds fans for catching the final out of the 1990 World Series, but those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will remember so much more,” said Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame Museum. “We will miss his friendship, his kindness and his presence in our community.”
Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, a teammate for three seasons, called the news a shock.
“I saw him at an event this past summer in Cincinnati and he looked good,” Larkin told MLB.com. “I know he’s got some young kids, so I feel really bad for his family.” The Reds described Benzinger as a steady, hard-working contributor who fit in well and remained a friend to the organization long after his playing career ended.
Benzinger’s death closes a chapter on one of the defining moments in modern Reds history and a life spent in and around the game he loved.
