Ray Benge

Raymond Adelphia Benge
(Silent Cal)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9½", Weight 160 lb.
• School Sam Houston Normal Institute
• Debut September 26, 1925
• Final Game June 2, 1938
• Born April 22, 1902 in Jacksonville, TX USA
• Died June 27, 1997 in Centerville, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Don't talk much." - Ray Benge, on how he acquired the nickname "Silent Cal"

Ray Benge studied to be a school teacher at Sam Houston State University in Texas, but had so much success in pro baseball that he decided to remain in the game. Ray had three straight good winning seasons in the minors and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Waco Cubs of the Texas League on October 4, 1927. Ray was with the Phillies for five years, from 1928 through 1932, winning 57 games but losing 78. On December 12, 1932, they traded him to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Neal Finn, Cy Moore and Jack Warner. Benge spent three years with the Brooklyn club, from 1933 through 1935. Ray won 33 games over this stretch but lost 38, with 1934 his best year in the big leagues when he went 14-12 with a 4.32 ERA while pitching 227 innings. 1935 ended Ray's string of 200-plus inning years that started in 1928, barely missed in 1929 with 199, and then a run of five straight years (1930-1934) over 200. The Dodgers traded Benge, along with Tony Cuccinello, Al Lopez and Bobby Reis, to the Boston Braves for Ed Brandt and Randy Moore on December 12, 1935.

Ray floundered a bit with the now Boston Bees in 1936, going 7-9 with a 5.79 ERA. On July 27, he was selected off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Boston club. Benge finished the year with the Phillies going 1-4 and was sold to the Chicago White Sox on December 1st. The records show Ray never pitched an inning for anyone in 1937 and finished his major league career going 1-1 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1938. Benge finished his 12 season major league run with 101 wins, 130 losses and a 4.11 ERA while pitching 1,875 innings. Benge finished his pro baseball time spending three final years in the minors (1938-1940), going 5-7 over this span, and completed his six-year minor league run with a 42-31 record and a 3.94 ERA.

After his professional baseball days, Ray finished his education while teaching in Texas until his retirement. Benge was the head coach at his alma mater, Sam Houston State University, from 1957 to 1968, taking the school to 6 straight NAIA College World Series from 1960 to 1965. Ray died on June 27, 1997, in Centerville, TX, at the age of 94.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 6 (1928, 1930-1934)

Related Sites

• Ray Benge at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page