Gary Bennett #29

Gary David Bennett, Jr....he and his wife, Ruby, have two sons, Garrison (9/14/00) and Gavin (4/10/03), and a daughter, Julia (1/5/05)...was an all-conference standout in both baseball and football at Waukegan East (IL) High School...in 2006, sold cookies at Mike Shannon's restaurant in St. Louis to raise money for Operation Food Search...in August 2007, he and other Cardinals teammates distributed teddy bears at Children's, Cardinal Glennon, and Shriners Hospitals.

2007

Finished the season hitting .252 with two homers and 17 RBI in 59 games, serving as the primary backup to Yadier Molina in St. Louis...hit .314 following the All-Star break, including .400 (8-for-20) in the month of September...closed the season on a 7-for-11 tear (.636)...collected at least two hits in each of his last three games on Sept. 24, 28-29...batted .313 with runners on base, .333 with runners in scoring position and two out and .383 from the seventh inning on...posted a .996 fielding percentage after making just one error in 254 total chances...went 2-for-5 with a homer and a season-high three RBI on June 1 at Houston...had 10 multi-hit games in 41 starts at catcher...Cardinals were 7-3 in those games...had pinch-hit single in the ninth inning on April 24, his first pinch-hit as a Cardinal and the seventh of his career.

2006

Veteran catcher served as Yadier Molina's backup this season after signing as a free agent on 12/5/05...The 2006 season marks his fifth consecutive season with a different team as he played for six teams in the six years...Made 43starts. Went 14-for-44 (.318) in last 15 starts, with 4 HR and 9 RBI.Had a 4.60 (385.1 ip/197 er) catchers ERA...Had 4 HRs in last 37 ABs after starting year without a HR in first 120 ABs...Had season-high 5-game hit streak (.688, 3 HR's), 8/24-29...Returned to starting lineup on 9/4 at WSH after missing 4 games (lower back sprain)...Had 5th multi-hit game in six starts on 8/29 hit. Was the first Cardinal with back-to-back walk-off since Craig Paquette (6/22-23, 2000)...Grand slam 8/27 was the 1st of his career. It was his 2nd walk-off HR (last, 5/28/03)...Drove in both runs in Cards 2-1 win 8/26 vs. CHI including walk-off single in 9th. Recorded back-to-back three-hit games 8/25-26 vs. CHI...Had RBI-single 6/10 at MIL. Had two doubles & 2 RBI off the bench 4/23 vs. CHI.

2005

Veteran catcher served as Wasington Nationals back-up, his sixth team in past five seasons...2006 will mark his fifth consecutive season with a different team ... Started 57 games behind the plate, posting a 3.87 catcher's ERA (225 ER/ 523.1 IC)...threw out six of 31 attempted base stealers including both Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo in the first inning on 4/18 vs. FLA...has thrown out 53 of 258 attempted base-stealers (21%) in his career ... Batted .260 on the road but just .179 at RFK Stadium...was 3-for-6 with 8 RBI in bases loaded situations ... Of his 21 RBI, 13 came vs. NL East foes, including 6 vs. ATL...had just 7 RBI following the All-Star break ... Had two hits and key RBI in 9-3 win over SF on 5/6...recorded three-straight 2-hit games from 5/6-13 ... Hit his lone home run on 6/2 vs. ATL (2-run shot off Horacio Ramirez) and matched his career high with 5 RBI in the 8-6 come-from-behind win.

2004

Played for his third team in three seasons, appearing in 75 games for the Milwaukee Brewers...tied his career high with 4 hits in a 4-for-4 effort at CIN on 7/19 that included two doubles...had a pair of 3-RBI games; 4/9 vs. HOU and 8/22 vs. PHI...he homered in each of those games...scored a career-high 3 runs while going 3-for-4 on 5/1 vs. PIT...stole the fifth base of his career on 8/13 vs. FLA.

2003

Joined the San Diego Padres as a free agent prior to the start of the 2003 season ... appeared in a career-high 96 games batting .238 with 15 doubles, two home runs and career-high 42 RBI ... spent 747.0 innings behind the plate recording a team-leading .996 fielding percentage ... committed two errors over his 91 games behind the plate ... led all San Diego catchers with a 3.84 ERA (319 er/747.0 ip) under his watch, while throwing out 18.6 % of would-be base stealers (11-of-59) ... batted .292 with 26 of his 42 RBI after the All-Star break ... hit at a .293 clip (27-for-92) with runners in scoring position and .295 (13-for-44) with runners in scoring position with two outs ... batted .444 (4-for-9) with 17 runs batted in with the bases loaded ... began the season batting .314 (11-for-35) over 11 games in April and finished the season batting .320 (32-for-100) over his last 33 games scoring 10 runs,connecting for seven doubles and driving in 23 runs over the final stretch ... recorded 18 multi-hit games, including four three-hit contests: April 11 vs Colorado, August 12 at Atlanta, August 25 at Arizona and September 20 at Colorado ... went 3-5 with two doubles and five runs batted in September 20 vs Colorado.

2002

Spent the season with Colorado hitting .265 with a career-high four roundtrippers and 26 RBI in 90 games with the Rockies ... matched a career-best seven-game hitting streak June 14-27, including a career-high 4-4 performance on June 22 vs Tampa Bay ... hit .365 (23-63) against lefties.

2001

Batted a combined .244 (32-131) with Philadelphia, New York (N) and Colorado with six doubles, a triple and two homers with 10 RBI in 46 total games ... started the season with Philadelphia appearing in 26 games and batting .213 (16-75) ... traded to the New York Mets by the Phillies on July 23 for catcher Todd Pratt ... appeared in one game for the Mets, recording a pinch-hit single in his only at-bat on July 24 at Florida ... optioned to Triple A Norfolk and appeared in 20 games for the Tides batting .299 with a pair of homers and four runs batted in ... traded to Colorado by the Mets for a player to be named later (Ender Chavez) on August 23 and spent the rest of the season with Colorado ... made his Rockies debut on August 26 in Milwaukee, going 1-3 with a run scored and had an assist at the plate ... with Colorado, saw action in 19 games, 15 starts and batted .273 (15-55) with three doubles, a homer and four RBI ... had three two-hit games on the year with Colorado ... during the month of September, went 4-9 with a double, one RBI and three multi-hit games ... finished the month with a .455 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .361 ... defensively, he was error free with Colorado ... had 96 putouts, four assists and a double play in 134.0 innings as a Colorado catcher ... caught two of 15 would-be base stealers (13.3 percent) ... when he was behind the plate, Rockie pitchers struck out 89 batters and walked only 55 ... Colorado pitchers averaged six strikeouts per nine innings with Bennett catching.

2000

Began the season at Triple A Scranton and had two call-ups to the Phillies during the season ... named Scranton's MVP, becoming the first catcher ever to win the award ... led the club with a .306 average while guiding the pitching staff to a Triple A best 3.63 ERA ... was the starting catcher for the International League in the Triple A All-Star Game ... named the Phillies Minor League Player of the Week, May 8-14, after recording an RBI in seven consecutive games (May 8-15) ... had a season-high 12-game hitting streak May 13-June 15 ... broke up Mike Johnson's no-hitter with an eighth inning homer, April 19 at Ottawa ... went on the disabled list with a strained right knee from June 23 to July 4 ... recalled by the Phillies on July 18 and played in 12 games making eight starts ... sent down August 18 and recalled September 1 remaining with the club the rest of the year ... with Philadelphia, he batted .243 (18-74) with two homers and five runs batted in.

1999

First full season in the majors, thanks in part to a wrist injury to Tom Prince in spring training...Made 19 starts in 32 appearances at catcher...Had 17 RBI in 19 starts...Had a career-high 7-game hit streak 5/1-6/23, hitting .357 (10-28) with 8 RBI...Had a career-high 3 hits twice 6/23 vs PIT and 8/5 at FLA...Tied a Phillies record with 2 sacrifice flies 7/19 at TB...Hit 1st ML HR (3-run off Nunez) and a career-high 4 RBI 8/5 at FLA...Committed 4 errors, but 3 of them in one game 9/1 at SF.

1998

Back-up catcher to Bobby Estalella at Scranton (AAA)...Became starting catcher when Estalella was promoted 7/25...Tied game with 9th-inning 2-run HR 8/8 at Rochester...Established new club record with 3 HR and 13 total bases 8/16 at Buffalo; final HR was grand slam in 14th inning off Huck Flener in 15-10 win...Had 5 RBI 8/19 vs Rochester...Became 9th Red Baron to reach double digits in HR with his career-high 10th 8/29 vs Ottawa...Had just 21 HR in 8 seasons prior to '98...Threw out 34% of base stealers (24-70)...Contract purchased by Phillies 9/1...Came in as a defensive replacement 9/5 at MIL (0-2), then hit in 5 straight (all starts) 9/6-22...Had 1st ML 2-RBI game 9/22 at CIN...Played winter ball for Escogido, DR

1997

Signed with Boston as a minor league free agent 2/10...Spent entire season with Pawtucket (AAA)...Caught 65 of the 71 games played; started other 6 games at 1st base...Did not make an error at 1st base...Split time behind the plate with Walt McKeel, had a .985 fielding %...Hit .302 (13-43) in 14 games in May with 3 of his 4 home runs...Had season-high 4 RBI 5/26 vs Rochester and 5/31 at Scranton; hit 2 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI in that 3-game span 5/26-31...Played winter ball for Zulia, VZ...Re-signed by Phils as a minor league free agent 12/27 .

1996

Set Scranton record for home runs by a catcher (8)...Hit 2 HR 6/2 at Toledo...Hit .296 vs LHP...Threw out 35% (43-121) of base stealers...Contract purchased by Phillies 8/23...Went 2-4 in 1st ML start 8/25 at SD, collecting 1st ML hit (single off Scott Sanders) and RBI...Became 51st player for Phils, setting new club record...Made 5 starts for Phils; reached base safely in 4 of those 5 starts...Played winter ball for Zulia, VZ .

1995

Spent majority of season at Reading, catching 82 games...Hit .340, 10 RBI in 17 games in May...Had 2 three-hit games: 5/7 vs Harrisburg and 5/28 at Norwich...Had a season-best 4 RBI 8/9 vs Trenton...Had 14 multiple-hit games...Ranked 1st among EL catchers with 13 double plays...Threw out 36% (37-104) of base stealers...Promoted to Scranton (AAA) 8/25 where he caught 7 games...Contract purchased by Phillies 9/3...Made 1st and only ML appearance, pinch-hitting 9/24 vs CIN (struck out) becoming Phils record 50th player of season.

1994

Began season at Clearwater, throwing out 30% of base stealers...Promoted to Reading (AA) after 19 games 5/12...Led Eastern League with 22 passed balls...Threw out 27% of base stealers.

1993

Began season at Spartanburg (A), appearing in 42 games...Promoted to Clearwater (A), appearing in 17 games.

1992

Had best fielding % among catchers (.994) in NY-Penn League for Batavia (A).

1991

Spent 2nd pro season at Martinsville.

1990

Phillies' 11th round pick in June draft ...Began pro career at Martinsville (R).