Bennie Daniels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bennie Daniels |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: June 17, 1932 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 24, 1957, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 18, 1965, for the Washington Senators | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 45–76 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.44 | ||
| Strikeouts | 471 | ||
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Bennie Daniels Jr. was a professional baseball pitcher from the United States. He was born on June 17, 1932. Bennie played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine years. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1957 to 1960. Later, he joined the Washington Senators from 1961 to 1965.
Bennie Daniels was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 193 pounds. He threw the ball with his right hand but batted with his left hand. During his career, he played in 230 games as a pitcher. He started 139 of those games. Bennie earned 45 wins and had 471 strikeouts. He also pitched five complete games and five shutouts. His earned run average (ERA) was 4.44.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Growing Up in Alabama
Bennie Daniels was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He later moved to Southern California. There, he graduated from Compton High School.
Starting Professional Baseball
Bennie began his baseball journey in 1951. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. His first team was the Great Falls Electrics in the Pioneer League. He served in the military during 1953 and 1954. After that, he continued to play in the Pirates' minor league teams.
Reaching the Major Leagues
In 1957, Bennie had a great season. He won 17 games and lost 8 with the Hollywood Stars. This team was part of the Pacific Coast League. Because of his strong performance, the Pirates called him up to the major leagues in September 1957.
Memorable Moments in Baseball
Playing at Ebbets Field
Bennie Daniels had a special moment on September 24, 1957. He was the starting pitcher in the very last game ever played at Ebbets Field. This was the home stadium of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Pirates lost that game 2–0 to the Dodgers and their pitcher, Danny McDevitt.
Facing Sandy Koufax
On May 23, 1960, Bennie played against Sandy Koufax. Koufax was a future Hall-of-Famer. In the second inning, Bennie hit a single. This was the only hit the Pirates got against Koufax that day. Koufax won the game 1–0. Bennie's hit stopped Koufax from pitching what would have been his first no-hitter.
Time with the Washington Senators
Joining a New Team
On December 16, 1960, Bennie Daniels was part of a big trade. He was traded to the new expansion Washington Senators. This team was joining the American League in April 1961. The trade sent pitcher Bobby Shantz to the Pirates. In return, the Senators got Bennie and two infielders, Harry Bright and R. C. Stevens.
Leading the Pitching Staff
In 1961, Bennie was a key pitcher for the Senators. He led the team in several important categories. He had 12 wins, 11 complete games, and 110 strikeouts. He also tied for the most innings pitched with 212.
Presidential Opener Start
In 1962, manager Mickey Vernon chose Bennie to start the Presidential Opener. This was the first opening day game played at the new DC Stadium. Bennie pitched the entire game. He defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–1, allowing only five hits. He continued to pitch for Washington until 1965. For the Senators, he had 37 wins and 60 losses. His ERA was 4.14. He retired from baseball after the 1966 season. He spent that last season playing for the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Bennie Daniels went back to Compton, California. He lived there with his wife, Jimmie Sue Daniels. They had two children, Michael and Vickie. Sadly, his daughter Vickie passed away in September 2017. Bennie Daniels still lives in Compton today.
