By Craig Lynch –
Joe Benson plays third base for the Chicago Dogs who are playing their first season in the revived American Association unaffiliated minor league baseball league.
Benson has known the highs and lows of athletics. “I have had my accolades,” he said.
Benson was born in Hinsdale. He starred in football and baseball at Joliet Catholic Academy. “We never won a title but we were close,” he said. Benson was graduated in 2006. He rushed for 367 yards on 23 carries in a playoff game against Batavia. He carried eight times for 240 yards in another game.
“I had the choice to play football or baseball but my love for baseball made the choice easy.”
Benson, 30, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2006. He made his Major League Baseball debut against the White Sox September 6, 2011. “I had gone to a ton of Sox games so to start my career against them was exciting,” he said. Benson faced Jake Peavy. I went zero-for-four, but I walked. Benson’s first hit came against Max Schurze who was pitching for the Detroit Tigers.
Benson hooked on with MLB organizations Miami, New York Mets, and Atlanta, went back to the Twins’ minor leagues in 2016 and was released at the end of the season. He played with on unaffiliated Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League last season and signed with the Chicago Dogs May 8.
The Dogs play in Rosemont near O’Hare Airport at freshly-completed Impact Field which has seating for 6,300. Butch Hebson, former Boston Red Sox third baseman is the manager. Shawon Dunston, Jr. is on the team.
“It’s a brand new park and it is exciting,” said Benson.
The Dogs were at the bottom of the six-team Northern Division through Sunday with a 14-27 record.
“We have been losing a lot of close games,” he said. “We still have over 60 games left, so I think we can get this thing turned around.”
Benson was asked if he is still chasing a dream or just playing for the love of the game. “I would accept any call from an affiliated team” he said. “Let’s face it how often do you get paid for playing a game.”
The American Association was formed in 1902, dropped in 1997, and revived as unaffiliated with MLB in 2006.
