Ben Shelton

Benjamin Davis Shelton

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 210 lb.
• High School Oak Park and River Forest High School
• Debut June 16, 1993
• Final Game July 25, 1993
• Born September 21, 1969 in Chicago, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Ben Shelton was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 1987 Amateur Draft. In 8 minor league seasons, the first baseman/outfielder had a batting average of .235. In 1993, he got his only shot at the majors and hit .250 (6 hits in 24 AB) with a slugging percentage of .542 in 15 games for the Pirates. He was involved in a strange play on July 2nd of that year. He started the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in left field, when Reds leadoff hitter Jeff Branson hit a ball to the left-center field gap. Shelton reached out to catch the ball, but the ball bounced out of the heel of his glove. Fortunately, center fielder Al Martin was near him and caught the ball barehanded, giving Shelton his only professional outfield assist.

He attended Oak Park and River Forest High School where he was a star pitcher.