The Cincinnati Reds are mourning the loss of former MLB first baseman and 1990 World Series champion Todd Benzinger, who died Wednesday at the age of 63.
The Reds announced his passing Thursday, remembering Benzinger for his role on one of the most celebrated teams in franchise history.
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Benzinger joined Cincinnati in 1989 and spent three seasons with the Reds through 1991. He became an important member of the 1990 club, which went wire-to-wire in winning the National League West before sweeping the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in the World Series.
The 1990 Reds remain one of the most memorable teams in franchise history. Cincinnati finished the World Series with a four-game sweep, winning Games 1 through 4 and capturing the organization’s fifth championship.
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Benzinger played in all four games of the World Series, including starts at first base in Games 3 and 4. He became permanently connected to the championship when he caught the final out of the series in foul territory near first base, securing Cincinnati’s sweep of Oakland.
Benzinger’s MLB career began with Boston in 1987 before he moved to Cincinnati. He ultimately played nine seasons in the majors, also spending time with Kansas City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He finished his career with 924 games, 66 home runs and 376 RBIs.
His place in Reds history, however, will forever be defined by the 1990 championship. That team featured stars including Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Chris Sabo, Paul O’Neill and Jose Rijo, along with the famous “Nasty Boys” bullpen. Cincinnati’s unexpected championship remains one of the defining accomplishments in franchise history.
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The Reds expressed their condolences to Benzinger’s family, friends, former teammates and everyone who knew him. No cause of death has been publicly released.
For Reds fans, Benzinger will always be remembered as one of the players who helped deliver the franchise’s 1990 championship — and as the man who caught the final out that completed the historic sweep.
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