Photo courtsey of Chicago Historical Society, Joe Benz Chicago White Sox 1910s An accomplished major league pitcher, Joe Benz pitched in 250 major league games, all with the Chicago White Sox during baseball’s Dead Ball Era, 1911-1919. Mainly a starting pitcher, he used a fastball and had excellent movement on his curveball Listen up – anyone who pitched in the majors is a first class ballplayer and Joe Benz posted an outstanding 2.42 earned run average compiled over his 9-year major league career. He won 15 games twice, 12 games once and finished with a solid 73-76 record. In 1914 he won 15 games and lost an AL leading 19 games for a White Sox team that finished with a disappointing 70-84 record. He completed 16 of 35 starts, relieved in 13 others and pitched a career-high 283.1 innings. In 1915 pitching for new White Sox manager Clarence ‘Pants’ Rowland the 6 ft 1/2 inch, 196 pound right-handed Joe Benz put together a solid 15-11 record for a Sox team that ended at 93-61, third best in the AL. He had the fifth lowest ERA in the entire AL - a stingy 2.11 ERA. In 1916 Joe Benz went 9-5, with a 2.03 ERA for the second place White Sox. All-in-all Joe Benz had a great baseball career. He allowed just 1,224 hits in 1,358.2 innings, posted a very respectable .243 on base percentage, and hurled 17 complete game shutouts. Baseball History |
