Ben Guintini
From BR Bullpen
Benjamin John Guintini
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1½", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut April 21, 1946
- Final Game April 30, 1950
- Born January 13, 1920 in Los Banos, CA USA
- Died December 2, 1998 in Roseville, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
25-year-old outfielder Ben Guintini, who had spent two years (1940-41) in the minors with the Salt Lake City Bees and then had been called up for two years (1942-43) of Military Service with the United States Army during World War II, returned in time to spend two more years (1944-45) with the San Francisco Seals. Ben hit .287 for the Seals in 1945 and the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him from the San Francisco club on November 1, 1945 in the Rule V Draft. The son of Italian immigrants, Ben spoke no English until he started school. He was born and raised in California and recalled enjoying his many years in the Pacific Coast League with San Francisco, San Diego and Hollywood, more so than his stints in the big leagues, where he was hitless in seven at-bats in five games.
After his overnight stop with the Pirates in 1946 where he went 0 for 3 in two appearances, he was back in the PCL with the Hollywood Stars and San Diego Padres for the balance of 1946, hitting a combined .257. He would have a good year with the Indianapolis Indians in 1947, hitting .302 with 16 home runs and a big year with the 1949 Dallas Eagles of the Texas League, a .306 average with 32 home runs, would get him drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1949 Rule V Draft.
In 1950, Guintini made a brief return to the major leagues with the Athletics.
An acrobatic, entertaining fan favorite, Ben was a favorite of comedian Joe E. Brown, who tried to interest him into getting into films. In one game when several fans from his hometown of Los Banos, CA came to see him play against the San Francisco Seals, he did handstands while taking his center field position to start the game, then was benched by manager Lefty O'Doul.
Guintini stayed in baseball until 1951 when he finished his ten-year pro baseball career in the PCL with the Oakland Oaks. Ben had appeared in 1,054 games, went to bat 3,534 times had 929 base hits (including 99 home runs) for a .264 minor league career batting average.
Guintini, who was a Cadillac salesman for 37 years, died December 2, 1998, at age 79 in Roseville, CA.
