Bradford Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bradford Bennett |
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| Outfielder / First baseman / Second baseman | |||
| Born: October 31, 1916 Obion, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Died: July 8, 1981 (aged 64) East Chicago, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| 1940, for the New Orleans–St. Louis Stars | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1946, for the Boston Blues | |||
| Teams | |||
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Bradford Bennett (born Brandsford Bennett; October 31, 1916 – July 8, 1981) was an American baseball player. He played in the Negro Leagues during the 1940s. Bennett was known for playing many positions, including outfielder, first baseman, and second baseman.
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Early Life of Bradford Bennett
Bradford Bennett was born on October 31, 1916. His birth name was Brandsford Bennett. He was born in Obion, Tennessee. He was the youngest of two children. By 1920, his family had moved to Fulton, Kentucky.
Baseball Career Highlights
Starting in the Negro Leagues
Bradford Bennett started his professional baseball career in 1940. He joined the New Orleans–St. Louis Stars. In 1941, he returned to the Stars. People in the league called him "the boy wonder." This showed how talented he was at a young age.
Time with the New York Black Yankees
In 1942, Bennett played a short season. He joined the New York Black Yankees. During this time, he mostly played left field and first base. He even earned a nickname, "Buck" Bennett.
Serving in World War II
Bennett's baseball career was put on hold. He was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his country during World War II. This meant he missed several baseball seasons.
Return to Baseball in 1946
After the war, Bennett came back to baseball in 1946. He signed with the Boston Blues. This team was part of the United States League, which soon closed down. Bennett mostly played as a second baseman during this time.
Powerful Hits and Big Plays
Even though he played less often, Bennett made some very important hits. In May 1946, he hit a line drive. This hit went "over the huge Forbes Field scoreboard." It helped Boston win 5-4 against the Pittsburgh Crawfords.
In June, Bennett hit a "mammoth home run." This happened during a game against Brooklyn. The ball traveled very high and far. A local newspaper called it the "longest home run of the season" at Stumpf Field. They said the ball went "over the tree-tops."
In August, Bennett helped his team win a close game. He hit two singles and a powerful triple. The triple rolled almost to the 520-foot marker in center field. These hits helped his team, the Boston Blues, win 7-5.
