Mel Behney

Melvin Brian Behney

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.
• School Michigan State University
• High School Verona (NJ) High School
• Debut August 14, 1970
• Final Game September 20, 1970
• Born September 2, 1947 in Newark, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Mel Behney pitched five games in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds in 1970, a team which won 102 games. He was the same age as Johnny Bench and Dave Concepcion. He had gone 14-7 for the Asheville Tourists in 1969. Both Mel and Steve Garvey attended Michigan State University in 1967 and 1968. Behney was First Team All-Big Ten as a senior in 1968. Both Mel and Steve were drafted in the secondary phase of the June 1968 draft, with Mel going #5 and Steve going #13.

The book The Starting Pitcher has some text about Behney's thoughts about his major league debut.