Former Cincinnati Reds first baseman Todd Benzinger — who won a World Series championship with the organization in 1990 — died, the team announced Thursday. He was 63.
In a statement, the Reds said Benzinger would be “remembered with great affection and gratitude.”
The Cincinnati Reds are saddened by the passing of former first baseman and 1990 World Series champion Todd Benzinger.
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) October 22, 2026
Todd will be remembered with great affection and gratitude for his place in one of the most memorable chapters in Reds history. Our deepest condolences go out… pic.twitter.com/h3P6UWTNn1
A former fourth-round pick, Benzinger spent his time across five MLB teams during his nine seasons in the majors. He came up with the Boston Red Sox, where he spent the first two seasons of his career.
In 1988, he was traded to the Reds. His career with the organization got off to a strong start, as he ended Orel Hershiser’s record 59-inning scoreless streak during Hershiser’s first start of the 1989 season. Despite hitting just .245/.293/.381 that season, Benzinger led the National League with 628 at-bats.
The following year, Benzinger played 118 games on a Reds team that won the World Series. He saw time in nine playoff games with the team, hitting .250 during that stretch. Benzinger was responsible for securing the final out of that World Series, catching a foul ball to give the Reds the 4-0 sweep over the Athletics.
Benzinger got off to a slow start with the Reds in 1991 and was eventually traded to the Kansas City Royals. Though he performed well with the team, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason. He spent one year in Los Angeles before signing a free-agent deal with the San Francisco Giants ahead of the 1993 MLB season.
Benzinger spent three years with the Giants before leaving the game after the 1995 season.
In his nine seasons in the majors, Benzinger hit .257, with 66 home runs and 376 RBI.