Ben Weber (baseball)

Ben Weber
Relief pitcher
Born: (1969-11-16) November 16, 1969
Port Arthur, Texas
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 3, 2000, for the San Francisco Giants
Last MLB appearance
May 8, 2005, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 19-8
Earned run average 3.77
Strikeouts 162
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Ben Edward Weber (born November 17, 1969 in Port Arthur, Texas) was a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. Weber was known for his strange pitching windup. He would pump his glove up and down twice in which he then made his high leg kick and then would release the ball with his arm at three quarters angle.

Career

Weber attended Port Neches-Groves High School and then the University of Houston. Weber was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round (537th overall) of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. After spending six years in the Blue Jays minor league system, Weber was released and pitched in the independent Western Baseball League for the Salinas Peppers in 1996 and in Taiwan at Taiwan Major League from 1997 to 1998. In 1999, he pitched in the San Francisco Giants minor league system.[1] He was added to the 40-man roster on October 21.[2] On April 3, 2000, Weber made his Major League debut against the Florida Marlins at the age of 30.

On August 30, 2000, Weber was claimed of waivers by the Anaheim Angels,[3] where he had two of his best years. In 2002, Weber and the Angels went on to win the 2002 World Series. Weber yielded a triple in game 5 of the 2002 World Series to Kenny Lofton of the San Francisco Giants. J. T. Snow and David Bell scored on the play. Snow picked up the batboy, Darren Baker, and removed him from the field of play. The son of then Giants' manager Dusty Baker was at home plate to collect Lofton's bat before the play was completed.[4] Following the incident with Darren Baker, who was then three years old, Major League Baseball required batboys and girls to be at least 14 years of age.[5] In 2003, he posted an ERA below 3.00. In 2004, Weber dealt with recurring back and neck injuries and struggled through a difficult season in which he posted an ERA over 8.00. Weber was released by the Angels in September 2004. On December 15, 2004, Weber signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.[6][7] He could not regain his old form and posted an 8.03 ERA while appearing in only 10 games.

On January 11, 2006, Weber signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.[8] At the start of the season, Weber was sent to the Blue Jays' AAA club in Syracuse where he posted a 4.33 ERA in just over 43 innings before being released June 29, 2006.[9] Weber went to spring training with the Houston Astros in 2007.[10][11] He requested (and was granted) his release prior to the start of the regular season.

Weber retired after spring training in 2007. He then attended Texas Chiropractic College where he obtained his doctorate of chiropractic degree. He presently resides in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife Marisa and his triplets Jack, Alexis,and Chloe. Weber practices at Health Star Chiropractic.

[12] [13]

References

  1. ↑ Foster, Chris (June 19, 2001). "Quite a Retro-Fit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Transactions". New York Times. October 21, 1999. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Kahrl, Christina (September 1, 2000). "Transaction Analysis". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ Whicker, Mark (October 25, 2002). "Angels can do it, but not like this". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Darren Baker still can't be a bat boy 10 years later". USA Today. Associated Press. October 6, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Minor League Transactions". Baseball America. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Reds add veteran arms to bargain-basement bullpen Veteran relievers Weathers, Weber sign; White lobbies for deal". Dayton Daily News. December 16, 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  8. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (January 11, 2006). "Jays sign Weber to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Minor League Transactions". Baseball America. July 6, 2006. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (February 1, 2007). "Astros take a look at veteran pair of local relievers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ Footer, Allyson (February 1, 2007). "Wunsch, Weber try out at Minute Maid". MLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ Angel in the Infield. .
  13. ↑ Health Star Chiropractic. .

External links

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