Mike Benjamin
Born: 11/22/1965 in Euclid, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1989-07-07 | Final Game: 2002-09-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Michael Paul Benjamin
Biography
Mike Benjamin, born in 1965, was a professional baseball player who enjoyed a career spanning from 1989 to 2002. Primarily known as a versatile position player, Benjamin played in a total of 818 games throughout his tenure in Major League Baseball. While he recorded 442 hits, including 24 home runs, his offensive contributions were complemented by his speed on the bases, as he successfully stole 44 bases. Benjamin concluded his career with a batting average of .229 and amassed 169 RBIs, showcasing his role as a reliable, if not prolific, contributor to his teams.
Benjamin's playing style was characterized by his defensive versatility and tenacity on the field. He played during a transitional period in baseball, where the game was increasingly influenced by power hitters, yet he carved out a niche for himself as a dependable player known for his work ethic. Although his statistical achievements may not place him among the game's greats, his contributions to the teams he played for, including the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies, were significant in their own right, as he provided depth and reliability during his years in the league.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 818 | 1926 | 227 | 442 | 109 | 15 | 24 | 169 | 44 | 106 | 429 | 0.229 | 0.277 | 0.339 | 0.616 | -7066.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | SFG | NL | 14 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | SFG | NL | 22 | 56 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0.214 | -83.6 |
| 1991 | SFG | NL | 54 | 106 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 0.123 | -835.7 |
| 1992 | SFG | NL | 40 | 75 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 0.173 | -403.5 |
| 1993 | SFG | NL | 63 | 146 | 22 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 23 | 0.199 | -516.6 |
| 1994 | SFG | NL | 38 | 62 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 0.258 | 5.0 |
| 1995 | SFG | NL | 68 | 186 | 19 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 51 | 0.220 | -915.0 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | 35 | 103 | 13 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 0.223 | -100.9 |
| 1997 | BOS | AL | 49 | 116 | 12 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 0.233 | -496.2 |
| 1998 | BOS | AL | 124 | 349 | 46 | 95 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 39 | 3 | 15 | 73 | 0.272 | -691.0 |
| 1999 | PIT | NL | 110 | 368 | 42 | 91 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 37 | 10 | 20 | 90 | 0.247 | -1362.7 |
| 2000 | PIT | NL | 93 | 233 | 28 | 63 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 45 | 0.270 | -507.3 |
| 2002 | PIT | NL | 108 | 120 | 7 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 0.150 | -1158.9 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | BOS | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.091 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | ALDS1 | BOS | 4 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.091 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 16 | 4 | 55 | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| 2B | 184 | 143 | 355 | 413 | 4 | 101 |
| 3B | 199 | 89 | 85 | 273 | 14 | 19 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 375 | 264 | 439 | 952 | 28 | 193 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | SFN | SS | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | SFN | SS | 21 | 16 | 29 | 53 | 1 | 10 |
| 1991 | SFN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | SFN | SS | 51 | 34 | 64 | 123 | 3 | 23 |
| 1992 | SFN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | SFN | SS | 33 | 25 | 34 | 71 | 1 | 13 |
| 1993 | SFN | 2B | 23 | 17 | 54 | 54 | 1 | 23 |
| 1993 | SFN | 3B | 16 | 14 | 10 | 34 | 3 | 3 |
| 1993 | SFN | SS | 23 | 9 | 10 | 45 | 1 | 7 |
| 1994 | SFN | 2B | 10 | 7 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 3 |
| 1994 | SFN | 3B | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | SFN | SS | 18 | 8 | 15 | 45 | 2 | 10 |
| 1995 | SFN | 2B | 8 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | SFN | 3B | 43 | 30 | 29 | 77 | 4 | 3 |
| 1995 | SFN | SS | 16 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 0 | 6 |
| 1996 | PHI | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | PHI | SS | 31 | 30 | 37 | 87 | 6 | 14 |
| 1997 | BOS | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | BOS | 1B | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 | BOS | 2B | 5 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| 1997 | BOS | 3B | 19 | 14 | 13 | 39 | 4 | 4 |
| 1997 | BOS | SS | 16 | 10 | 17 | 29 | 2 | 4 |
| 1998 | BOS | 1B | 10 | 4 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| 1998 | BOS | 2B | 87 | 73 | 160 | 189 | 2 | 40 |
| 1998 | BOS | 3B | 11 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | BOS | SS | 20 | 18 | 26 | 58 | 1 | 11 |
| 1999 | PIT | 2B | 12 | 11 | 21 | 31 | 0 | 5 |
| 1999 | PIT | 3B | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | PIT | SS | 93 | 81 | 140 | 298 | 8 | 77 |
| 2000 | PIT | 1B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | PIT | 2B | 27 | 20 | 57 | 71 | 0 | 18 |
| 2000 | PIT | 3B | 34 | 19 | 13 | 61 | 2 | 5 |
| 2000 | PIT | SS | 30 | 15 | 30 | 74 | 2 | 13 |
| 2002 | PIT | 1B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | PIT | 2B | 11 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 6 |
| 2002 | PIT | 3B | 62 | 5 | 13 | 33 | 1 | 3 |
| 2002 | PIT | SS | 15 | 11 | 18 | 35 | 1 | 5 |
| 2002 | PIT | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 |
| First Base | 16 |
| Second Base | 184 |
| Third Base | 199 |
| Shortstop | 375 |
| Right Field | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 4 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Player of the Week | Week of 1995-06-17 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | PIT | NL | $925,000 |
| 2001 | PIT | NL | $925,000 |
| 2000 | PIT | NL | $700,000 |
| 1999 | PIT | NL | $700,000 |
| 1998 | BOS | AL | $242,500 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | $325,000 |
| 1995 | SFN | NL | $320,000 |
| 1994 | SFN | NL | $225,000 |
| 1993 | SFN | NL | $142,500 |
| 1992 | SFN | NL | $150,000 |
| 1991 | SFN | NL | $110,000 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | $105,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,870,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Tempe | AZ | 1986, 1987 |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | CA | 1984, 1985 |