Dennis Bennett, member of 1964 Phillies, dies at 72

Dennis Bennett, left, and John Callison, pose for a team picture in 1964. (AP File Photo)
Dennis Bennett, left, and John Callison, pose for a team picture in 1964. (AP File Photo)
DAILY NEWS STAFF AND WIRE
Posted: March 25, 2012

Dennis Bennett, who won 12 games for the 1964 Phillies, died Saturday. He was 72.

Bennett's daughter, Vanessa, said he died at his home in Klamath Falls, Ore., after an ongoing illness. The Herald and News reports that Bennett had been in poor health and was hospitalized in Portland the last two months before returning home Thursday.

Bennett spent three seasons with the Phillies, from 1962 through '64. He went 12-14 with a 3.68 ERA in 41 appearances in 1964.

The 24-year-old lefthander was part of the starting rotation along with Jim Bunning, Chris Short and Ray Culp as the Phillies built a lead in the division.

Culp, however, was sidelined in mid-August and Bennett was pitching through a sore shoulder late in the season, including seven consecutive losses through August and early September.

Every Phillies fan knows what happened next.

Over the final days, manager Gene Mauch opted to start Bunning and Short twice on two days' rest, instead of three, as the Phillies lost 10 games in a row and the pennant.

Bennett's brother, Dave, made his only appearance in the big leagues that season and the brothers pitched in the same game on June 12 against the Mets.

Dennis Bennett was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1958 and made his big-league debut in 1962.

He also pitched for Boston, the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels in his career. He threw 28 complete games and six shutouts and had a career record of 48-49 with a 3.69 ERA.

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