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Herschel BennettAmerican baseball player
Date of Birth: 21.09.1896
Country:  USA |
Content:
- American Baseball Outfielder Herschel Bennett
- St. Louis Browns Debut and Injuries
- Reserve Role and Career-Ending Injury
- Later Career and Legacy
- Herschel Bennett passed away on September 9, 1964.
American Baseball Outfielder Herschel Bennett
Early Life and Minor League CareerHerschel Bennett began his baseball journey in the late 1910s, initially playing for local semi-professional teams before transitioning to the professional ranks in the minor leagues. In 1920, he joined the Springfield Merchants. From 1921 to 1923, Bennett played for the Tulsa Oilers in the Western League, where he excelled, hitting .370 with 13 triples and 24 home runs in 1922.
St. Louis Browns Debut and Injuries
In 1922, Bennett was purchased by the St. Louis Browns for $10,000. He spent most of 1923 with Tulsa but made five appearances for the Browns. He made his Major League Baseball debut on April 19, 1923. In 1924, Bennett appeared in 41 games for the Browns, batting .330. However, his season was cut short due to a broken arm.
Reserve Role and Career-Ending Injury
Over the next three seasons, Bennett alternated between playing right and left field, often filling in for Ken Williams and Harry Rice. In 1925, he played in 93 games, batting .279 with 6 triples. His batting average dropped to .267 the following year, but he hit 7 home runs. In 1927, Bennett suffered a devastating collision with a wall during a game against Philadelphia, putting him in a coma for 36 hours and effectively ending his Major League career.
Later Career and Legacy
Bennett continued to play baseball in the minor leagues from 1928 onwards, notably for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was at the center of a controversy between Browns manager Phil Ball and commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Bennett argued that his constant movement within the organization kept him from being a regular on the major league roster, while Landis insisted that he should either be added to the lineup or released. Landis ultimately prevailed in the dispute, though no wrongdoing was found in Bennett's case.
