Ben Davis (baseball)

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name = Ben Davis
team = Camden Riversharks
number = 26
position = Pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1977|3|10
birthplace = city-state|Chester|Pennsylvania
bats = Switch
throws = Right
debutdate = September 25
debutyear = 1998
debutteam = San Diego Padres
statyear = September 11, 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .237
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 38
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 204
teams =
*San Diego Padres (by|1998-by|2001)
*Seattle Mariners (by|2002-by|2004)
*Chicago White Sox (by|2004)

Mark Christopher "Ben" Davis (born March 10, 1977 in city-state|Chester|Pennsylvania) is a former Major League Baseball catcher who is currently a pitcher for the Atlantic League. Davis currently lives with his wife, son, and daughter in West Chester, Pennsylvania

Professional Baseball

He was a first-round pick (2nd overall) in by|1995 by the San Diego Padres out of Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. USATODAY.com called him the best high school catcher since Dale Murphy in by|1974 [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/sbusa1.htm] .

Davis played parts of four seasons with the Padres before being traded with Wascar Serrano and Alex Arias to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Brett Tomko, Tom Lampkin, and Ramon Vazquez in mlby|2002. This trade, in large, disappointed the Padres organization because of their continuing failures to produce "home-grown" talent. Davis was a highly regarded top prospect [http://www.ducksnorts.com/articles/1997/09231997.html] .

On June 27, mlby|2004, Davis was once again traded, this time from the Mariners to the Chicago White Sox. Davis injured his elbow the following spring training, had surgery in June by|2005 and was released after the season.

For the by|2006 season, after signing with the New York Yankees, Davis played for the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Yankees. On January 12, by|2007, he re-signed and was invited to spring training by the Yankees. Davis was released by the Yankees April 1, 2007. In May 2007, he joined the independent Camden Riversharks and played well enough that he was signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June. He was then assigned to their Triple-A team, the Las Vegas 51s. He was released by the 51s in August.

In January of by|2008, Davis was signed by the Baltimore Orioles to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. Davis did not make the team coming out of spring training and was assigned to Double-A Bowie. Davis received a mid-season promotion to Triple-A, but was released on June 14. He is currently trying to make a comeback to major league baseball as a pitcher for the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League.

Controversy: Baseball's "Unwritten Rules"

Davis was the subject of controversy in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 26, mlby|2001, as a member of the San Diego Padres. Starting pitcher Curt Schilling took a perfect game into the 8th inning with one out when Davis reached base safely on a drag bunt to second baseman Jay Bell. Bell was playing deep for his position so he could help preserve Schilling's perfect game when the Davis bunt rolled slowly toward him. After Davis reached base, many of the Diamondback's players shouted obscenities at him for supposedly breaking baseball's "unwritten rule". After the game, Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly called Davis' play "chicken" [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/diamondbacks/2001-05-27-schilling.htm] . Many analysts continually debate Davis' decision to bunt for a base hit being that the Diamondbacks were only up 2-0, which brought the tying run to the plate. In addition, in this game, one of baseball's most elite hitters, Tony Gwynn, was on the bench available to pinch hit. San Diego's Alex Arias led off the ninth with a clean double. Schilling completed the three-hitter for the Diamondbacks' 3-1 win. This game started a fierce rivalry between the teams, which included several bench-clearing brawls, that lasted for several years, but which has since dissipated.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/davisbe01.shtml Baseball Reference]