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Ray Benge
From BR Bullpen
Raymond Adelphia Benge
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9½", Weight 160 lb.
- School Sam Houston Normal Institute
- Debut September 26, 1925
- Final Game June 2, 1938
- Born April 22, 1902 in Jacksonville, TX USA
- Died June 27, 1997 in Centerville, TX USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Ray Benge studied to be a school teacher at Sam Houston State University in Texas, but had so much success in pro baseball that he decided to remain with the game. Ray had three straight good winning seasons in the minors and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Waco Cubs of the Texas League on October 4, 1927. Ray would be with the Phillies for five years 1928 through 1932, winning 57 games but losing 78 and on December 12, 1921 they traded him to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Neal Finn, Cy Moore and Jack Warner.
Benge would spend three years with the Brooklyn club 1933 through 1935. Ray would win 33 games over this stretch but lose 38 with 1934 appearing to be his best year in the big leagues when he went 14-12 with a 4.32 ERA while pitching 227 innings. 1935 would end Ray's string of 200 plus inning years, that started in 1928 with 201, barely missed in 1929 with 199 and then had a run of five straight years (1930-34), over the 200 IP. The Dodgers would trade Benge along with Tony Cuccinello, Al Lopez and Bobby Reis to the Boston Braves for Ed Brandt and Randy Moore on December 12, 1935.
Ray floundered a bit with the now 1936 Boston Bees, going 7-9 with a 5.79 ERA and on July 27, 1936 he was selected off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Boston club. Benge finished out the year with the Phillies going 1-4 and was sold to the Chicago White Sox on December 1, 1936. The records show that Ray never pitched an inning for anyone in 1937 and finished out his major league career going 1-1 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1938. Benge finished up his 12 season major league run with 101 wins and 130 losses with a 4.11 ERA while pitching 1,875 innings.
Benge finished out his pro baseball time, spending three final years in the minors (1938-40), winning 5 and losing 7 over this span and finished out his six year minor league run with a 42-31 record and a 3.94 ERA. After his professional baseball days Ray finished his education and while teaching Benge was the head coach at Sam Houston State University from 1957 to 1968, taking the school to 6 straight NAIA College World Series from 1960 to 1965.
Ray continued his teaching in his native state of Texas where he lived and worked until his retirement. His death occured on June 27, 1997 in Centerville, TX, at the age of 94.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 6 (1928, 1930-1934)
