Gary Bennett

Who is Gary Bennett?

Gary David Bennett Jr. is a former backup catcher in Major League Baseball.

Bennett was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 11th round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. He played in the Phillies minor league system from 1990–1996, playing for the Martinsville Phillies, Batavia Clippers, Spartanburg Phillies, Clearwater Phillies, Reading Phillies, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.

Bennett made his major league debut in 1995 for the Phillies on September 24 against the Cincinnati Reds as a pinch hitter. He was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 1997 season and spent the season with the Pawtucket Red Sox. He returned to the Phillies organization the following year as a minor league free agent. Played most of the season with Scranton before his contract was purchased by the Phillies in September. 1998 was his first full season in the majors and he stayed with the Phillies as a backup catcher to Mike Lieberthal until he was traded to the New York Mets for fellow catcher Todd Pratt on July 23, 2001. Bennett played in one big league game for the Mets before they traded him to the Colorado Rockies a month later.