Ben Flowers Explained

Ben Flowers
Position:Pitcher
Width:270px
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:15 June 1927
Birth Place:Goldsboro, North Carolina
Death Place:Wilson, North Carolina
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 29
Debutyear:1951
Debutteam:Boston Red Sox
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 21
Finalyear:1956
Finalteam:Philadelphia Phillies
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:3–7
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.48
Stat3label:Innings pitched
Stat3value:168
Teams:

Bennett Flowers (June 15, 1927 – February 18, 2009) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for four teams between and . During his playing days, Flowers stood 6inchesft4inchesin (ftin) tall, weighed 195lb and batted and threw right-handed.[1] He was a native of Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Flowers, a knuckleball pitcher, debuted in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox, appearing in 33 games pitched, one in 1951 and 32 during the full season of . Then, during and 1956, he worked in 43 total games for three MLB teams: the Detroit Tigers (1955), St. Louis Cardinals (1955–1956) and Philadelphia Phillies (1956). His most productive season came for the 1953 Red Sox, when he posted career-bests in earned run average (ERA) (3.86), strikeouts (36), and innings pitched (87), in 32 games, including six starts, and one shutout, while recording all three of his career saves. His lone big-league shutout and complete game happened on August 5, when he blanked the St. Louis Browns, 5–0, at Fenway Park, allowing eight hits and two bases on balls.[2] The losing pitcher in that contest was Don Larsen, later to be immortalized as a New York Yankee by his perfect game during the 1956 World Series.

Over all or parts of four MLB seasons, Flowers posted a career 3–7 won–lost record, with a 4.49 ERA and three saves in 76 games, including 13 starts. He recorded one shutout and 31 games finished. In 168 innings of work, he allowed 190 hits and 54 bases on balls, with 86 strikeouts.[1] His entire pro career lasted for 15 years (1945–1946; 1948–1960).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ben Flowers Stats. 2019. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. May 26, 2019.
  2. [Retrosheet]