Ben Weber (baseball)

Ben Edward Weber (born November 17, 1969 in Port Arthur, Texas) was a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. Weber was known for his strange pitching windup. He would pump his glove up and down twice in which he then made his high leg kick and then would release the ball with his arm at three quarters angle.

Career

Weber attended Port Neches-Groves High School and then the University of Houston. Weber was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round (537th overall) of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. After spending six years in the Blue Jays minor league system, Weber was released and pitched in the independent Western Baseball League for the Salinas Peppers in 1996 and in Taiwan at Taiwan Major League from 1997 to 1998. In 1999, he pitched in the San Francisco Giants minor league system.^[1] He was added to the 40-man roster on October 21.^[2] On April 3, 2000, Weber made his Major League debut against the Florida Marlins at the age of 30.

On August 30, 2000, Weber was claimed of waivers by the Anaheim Angels,^[3] where he had two of his best years. In 2002, Weber and the Angels went on to win the 2002 World Series. Weber yielded a triple in game 5 of the 2002 World Series to Kenny Lofton of the San Francisco Giants. J. T. Snow and David Bell scored on the play. Snow picked up the batboy, Darren Baker, and removed him from the field of play. The son of then Giants' manager Dusty Baker was at home plate to collect Lofton's bat before the play was completed.^[4] Following the incident with Darren Baker, who was then three years old, Major League Baseball required batboys and girls to be at least 14 years of age.^[5] In 2003, he posted an ERA below 3.00. In 2004, Weber dealt with recurring back and neck injuries and struggled through a difficult season in which he posted an ERA over 8.00. Weber was released by the Angels in September 2004. On December 15, 2004, Weber signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.^[6][7] He could not regain his old form and posted an 8.03 ERA while appearing in only 10 games.

On January 11, 2006, Weber signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.^[8] At the start of the season, Weber was sent to the Blue Jays' AAA club in Syracuse where he posted a 4.33 ERA in just over 43 innings before being released June 29, 2006.^[9] Weber went to spring training with the Houston Astros in 2007.^[10][11] He requested (and was granted) his release prior to the start of the regular season.

Weber retired after spring training in 2007. He then attended Texas Chiropractic College where he obtained his doctorate of chiropractic degree. He presently resides in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife Marisa and his triplets Jack, Alexis,and Chloe. Weber practices at Health Star Chiropractic.

^{[12] [13]}

References

External links

• Baseball Reference
• Baseball Cube