Homer Benden never made it to
the major leagues, but he was certainly one of the best hitters ever
to play in the Beaver County Baseball League. As a County
League batter between 1940 and 1954, Homer slammed 462 hits in 1163
at bats for a .397 average. He also played Army ball in North Africa
in 1943 as a pitcher and first baseman, compiling an 11-0 pitching
record and batting .550. In the County League, he played for West
Mayfield, Chippewa, Rochester, and Beaver Falls. Homer’s most
famous exploit as a batter came in 1948 while playing for Rochester
Legion in the Greater Pittsburgh Amateur Baseball Tournament: he
whacked a long drive off the 406-foot mark on the left field wall at
Forbes Field and led Rochester to the runner-up spot. Homer also was
player-manager of Rochester Legion teams in both the County League
and Legion League in 1948 to 1950 and of West Mayfield in the County
League in 1953 and 1954. His five year managing record was 143-57
(for a .715 average). Homer's first minor league experience came with
the Beaver Falls Browns, a farm club of the St Louis Browns, in 1940
at age 16. He also played for the Erie Sailors, a New York Giants
farm club, in 1947 and was batting .370 after four games when a
broken ankle cut his professional career short. After baseball,
Homer worked for Standard Steel Specialty Company in West Mayfield.
Homer Benden never made it to
the major leagues, but he was certainly one of the best hitters ever
to play in the Beaver County Baseball League. As a County
League batter between 1940 and 1954, Homer slammed 462 hits in 1163
at bats for a .397 average. He also played Army ball in North Africa
in 1943 as a pitcher and first baseman, compiling an 11-0 pitching
record and batting .550. In the County League, he played for West
Mayfield, Chippewa, Rochester, and Beaver Falls. Homer’s most
famous exploit as a batter came in 1948 while playing for Rochester
Legion in the Greater Pittsburgh Amateur Baseball Tournament: he
whacked a long drive off the 406-foot mark on the left field wall at
Forbes Field and led Rochester to the runner-up spot. Homer also was
player-manager of Rochester Legion teams in both the County League
and Legion League in 1948 to 1950 and of West Mayfield in the County
League in 1953 and 1954. His five year managing record was 143-57
(for a .715 average). Homer's first minor league experience came with
the Beaver Falls Browns, a farm club of the St Louis Browns, in 1940
at age 16. He also played for the Erie Sailors, a New York Giants
farm club, in 1947 and was batting .370 after four games when a
broken ankle cut his professional career short. After baseball,
Homer worked for Standard Steel Specialty Company in West Mayfield.