Ben McDonald
Born: 11/24/1967 in Baton Rouge, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1989-09-06 | Final Game: 1997-07-16
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'7" | Weight: 212 lbs
Full name: Larry Benard McDonald
Biography
Ben McDonald was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1989 to 1997. Born in 1967, McDonald made his debut in the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles, where he quickly established himself as a promising young talent. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 78-70 with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.91, showcasing his ability to manage games effectively and keep runs to a minimum. Known for his strong arm and competitive spirit, McDonald struck out 894 batters, demonstrating his prowess on the mound during a time when pitching was becoming increasingly crucial in the game.
McDonald played in an era marked by the transition from traditional baseball styles to more modern approaches, and he was part of a generation of pitchers who emphasized power and strikeouts. While he never recorded a save in his career, his starting role was pivotal for teams that relied on his ability to go deep into games. After retiring from professional baseball on July 16, 1997, McDonald left a notable legacy in the sport, remembered for his contributions to the teams he played for and his impact on the evolution of pitching during the late 20th century.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | 70 | 211 | 198 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 1291.3 | 1186 | 561 | 138 | 437 | 894 | 3.91 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | BAL | AL | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.3 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 8.59 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | BAL | AL | 8 | 5 | 21 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 118.7 | 88 | 32 | 35 | 65 | 2.43 | 844.0 |
| 1991 | BAL | AL | 6 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 126.3 | 126 | 68 | 43 | 85 | 4.84 | -940.2 |
| 1992 | BAL | AL | 13 | 13 | 35 | 35 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 227.0 | 213 | 107 | 74 | 158 | 4.24 | -3416.3 |
| 1993 | BAL | AL | 13 | 14 | 34 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 220.3 | 185 | 83 | 86 | 171 | 3.39 | 2950.4 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | 14 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 157.3 | 151 | 71 | 54 | 94 | 4.06 | 1425.2 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | 3 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 80.0 | 67 | 37 | 38 | 62 | 4.16 | -538.1 |
| 1996 | ATL | AL | 12 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 221.3 | 228 | 96 | 67 | 146 | 3.90 | - |
| 1997 | ATL | AL | 8 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 133.0 | 120 | 60 | 36 | 110 | 4.06 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 211 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | BAL | AL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | BAL | AL | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | BAL | AL | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1992 | BAL | AL | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1993 | BAL | AL | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | ATL | AL | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1997 | ATL | AL | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 211 | 198 | 95 | 179 | 11 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | BAL | P | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | BAL | P | 21 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | BAL | P | 21 | 21 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | BAL | P | 35 | 35 | 22 | 29 | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 | BAL | P | 34 | 34 | 15 | 42 | 2 | 2 |
| 1994 | BAL | P | 24 | 24 | 7 | 25 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | BAL | P | 14 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | ML4 | P | 35 | 35 | 13 | 30 | 6 | 3 |
| 1997 | ML4 | P | 21 | 21 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 211 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Pitcher of the Month | April |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ML4 | AL | $5,000,000 |
| 1996 | ML4 | AL | $2,000,000 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | $4,500,000 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | $2,675,000 |
| 1993 | BAL | AL | $1,250,000 |
| 1992 | BAL | AL | $500,000 |
| 1991 | BAL | AL | $491,667 |
| 1990 | BAL | AL | $241,667 |
| Total Career Earnings | $16,658,334 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge | LA | 1987, 1988, 1989 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 8th | 2.0 | 140 | 0 |