Jeff Bennington fulfilled dream as pro; passed in 2023

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Jeff Bennington 1991 Burlington Astros baseball card

An excited Jeff Bennington spoke to The Tampa Tribune in June 1990 after signing as a pro, with the Astros.

The Astros scout had called him to inform him directly of the opportunity, Bennington told The Tribune.

"All I ever wanted to do was play pro baseball," Bennington, a catcher, told The Tribune. "I have that chance now. I never gave up hope. I won't waste the opportunity."

Bennington went on from there to play as a pro over two seasons. He topped out at single-A. 

Bennington's career began that year in 1990, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of Saint Leo College in Florida.

Bennington played his high school ball at Boca Raton High School. In March 1985, the catcher spoke to The Miami Herald for a feature on one of his pitchers.

"Before the game he was telling me to relax," Bennington told The Herald of the pitcher and a particular situation. "I ran out there and told him to remember what he had told me before the game."

Bennington started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 31 games and hit .296.

He then moved to single-A Burlington for 1991. He got into 36 games there and hit .185. That season proved his last as a pro.

Bennington later settled in North Carolina in another sport, skiing. He became a ski patrol director the Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley.

He passed away in August 2023 at the age of 55 from cancer.

Jeff Bennington 1991 Burlington Astros baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,528
Made the Majors:1,432-31.6%
Never Made Majors:3,096-68.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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