Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Phillies Missing Links of the 1990s - #20 Joel Bennett

#37
Joel Todd Bennett
Starting Pitcher

Released by the Orioles on July 27, 1998, Joel Bennett signed a minor league deal with the Phillies a few days later and spent the remainder of the season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. Bennett had started the 1998 season going 10-0 for the Rochester Red Wings, and he was named the starting pitcher for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game.  The Orioles soon called him up, but he would opt for free agency a week later when the Orioles tried to send him back down to Rochester.

The Phillies invited him to spring training in 1999 as a non-roster invitee and he got the call to the majors on May 7th when Paul Spoljaric was traded to the Blue Jays.  He'd start three games for the Phillies, struggling in each appearance before moving to the bullpen for a pair of games.  His roster spot was needed when the Phillies claimed Amaury Telemaco off waivers from the Diamondbacks, and Bennett was sent back to the minors on June 9th.  His big league career with the Phillies lasted a few days more than a month.

Bennett pitched in the Red Sox system in 2000 before latching on with the independent New Jersey Jackals.  He'd pitch in parts of seven seasons with the Jackals between 2001 and 2007, compiling a record of 59-19 in 104 games.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  160
Born:  January 31, 1970, Binghampton, NY
Drafted:  Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 21st round of the 1991 amateur player draft.
Major League Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 1998; Phillies 1999
Professional Affiliations:  Boston Red Sox 1991-1996; Baltimore Orioles 1996-1998; Phillies 1998-1999; Boston Red Sox 2000; New Jersey Jackals (independent) 2001-2007

Phillies Career
5 games, 2-1, 9.00 ERA (17 earned runs in 17 innings pitched), 13 strikeouts
Acquired:  Signed as a free agent formerly with the Baltimore Orioles, July 30, 1998.
Debut:  May 8, 1999 - Started and earned the win against the Rockies in Denver, allowing two solo home runs to Dante Bichette and Todd Helton over five innings of work.
Final Game:  June 6, 1999 - Relieved Robert Person in the sixth inning, allowing two runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings and ultimately earning the win when the Phillies came from behind to win.
Departed:  Granted free agency, October 6, 1999, and signed with the Boston Red Sox organization that offseason.

1994 Bowman #287
 
1999 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Red Barons Team Issue #6
1 Bennett Baseball Card in My Collection
1999 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons Team Issue #6

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1994 Bowman #287
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  1994 Bowman #287
Other Notable Cards:  1992 Fleer/ProCards #1767, 1997 Best Bowie Baysox #7, 1998 Q Cards Rochester Red Wings #6

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 1990s
1 Louie Meadows
2 Dave LaPoint
3 Darrin Chapin
4 Mickey Weston
5 Bob Wells
6 Tom Edens
7 Omar Olivares
10 Chuck Ricci
11 Dennis Springer
12 Manny Martinez
13 Rafael Quirico
14 Bronson Heflin
15 Glenn Dishman
16 Rob Butler
17 Mike Robertson
18 Matt Whiteside
19 Robert Dodd
20 Joel Bennett
21 Joe Grahe
22 Domingo Cedeno
23 Torey Lovullo

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

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