Ben Wade

Note: This page is for 1950s pitcher Ben Wade; for the umpire in 1879-1880, click here.

Benjamin Styron Wade

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 205 lb.

• Debut April 30, 1948
• Final Game June 12, 1955
• Born November 26, 1922 in Morehead City, NC USA
• Died December 2, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Brother of Jake Wade, Ben Wade pitched five years in the majors, most notably with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952 and 1953, both of which teams won the pennant. He was 11-9 in 1952 with 3 saves (the top win-man on the team had 14), and he went 7-5 in 1953 with 3 saves.

In 1952 he had 60 at-bats, getting 7 hits - 3 home runs, 3 doubles, and only 1 single.

He pitched in Games 1 and 5 of the 1952 World Series.

Although he was originally signed by the Dodgers prior to the 1940 season, he was in the organizations of several other teams before coming back to the Dodgers to pitch with them in 1952.

He pitched entirely in the National League while his brother Jake played entirely in the American League.

After his playing days, he became a scout for the Dodgers and then was the Scouting Director from 1973 to 1990. Players drafted by the Dodgers on his watch included Mike Piazza, Rick Sutcliffe, Orel Hershiser and Mike Scioscia.

Another brother, Charlie Wade, played outfield in the minors from 1926 to 1934.

He died of cancer at age 80.