Ben Mateosky

Bernard Benedict Mateosky
(Mighty Ox-sky, Powerful Pole)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 202 lb.

• Born March 21, 1930 in Uniontown, PA USA
• Died December 29, 2020 in Snowflake, AZ USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Ben Mateosky played 10 years in the minor leagues, including six at AAA, and hit 192 homers, but never made the major leagues. From Uniontown, PA, Mateosky debuted with the 1953 Wausau Lumberjacks and tore up the Wisconsin State League. He hit .320/~.382/.543 with 26 homers (second to Joe Tuminelli and 108 RBI that year. He finished third in the WSL in slugging behind Tuminelli and Art Lettieri. In '54, Ben hit .293 with 27 HR and drove in 140 with the Idaho Falls Russets, leading the Pioneer League in both homers and runs batted in.

In 1955, Ben met adversity with the Augusta Tigers (.221, 13 HR) and also played with the Little Rock Travelers (.300 in limited time). '56 was a split season between Idaho Falls (.289, 13 HR, 82 RBI) and Augusta (.240, 7 HR, 24 RBI) as he reached 20 homers for the third time in four years. In 1957, Ben hit .295/~.386/.543 with Augusta, scoring 94 times, hitting 20 homers and 13 triples and driving in 95. He was intentionally walked 18 times, tied for second in the South Atlantic League. He was sixth in average, third in runs (behind Curt Flood and Ed Charles), 5th in homers and second in triples. Called up to the Charleston Senators, he debuted on August 18 and homered off of Pete Burnside on the first pitch he saw at AAA, a two-run shot. The next time up, he took Jim Davis deep to help Charleston win 7-3. It was believed to be the first time it happened in American Association history history that a player homered in his first two at-bats. Overall, he hit .302/~.337/.573 for Charleston in 24 games.

In 1958, Mateosky hit .279 with 11 HR and 51 RBI for Charleston and the Omaha Cardinals. During '59, Ben hit .277 with 18 homers and 88 RBI for Omaha to lead the club in homers and to finish fourth in the AA in runs batted in. 1960 brought Ben to the International League, where he batted .304 with 12 homers for the Rochester Red Wings, third in the league in average. In '61, Ben had a .271 average with 12 homers and 54 RBI for the Charleston Marlins. After the season, the St. Louis Cardinals traded him to the New York Yankees for Frank Leja. He tied his career high with 27 homers for the 1962 Richmond Virginians, hit .266 and drove in 92. He tied for third in the IL in RBI and tied Willie Stargell for third in the league in home runs but was not called up. It was his final season.

He was a paratrooper for the US military and had over 100 jumps to his credit.

Sources: Nebraska minor league baseball history, 1958 Baseball Guide, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database