Marvin Benard

Who is Marvin Benard?

Marvin Larry Benard [buh-NARD] is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed.

Benard moved to Los Angeles with his mother and father when he was 12. After a stellar prep career at Bell High School, he went to L.A. Harbor Junior College in Wilmington, Calif., then Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. His cousin, Maurice Benard, is a soap opera actor.

Benard played with the San Francisco Giants from 1995 to 2003. He was a starter from 1999–2001, and played most of the season. He won the 1999 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership. Despite a disappointing post season performance in 2000, Marvin had one of the most memorable hits of series, batting in Ellis Burks for an RBI single in Game 3 of the 2000 National League Division Series

Benard had above-average power for a leadoff hitter. A notorious first-pitch hitter prone to striking out, Benard had good bat speed and could steal bases. He played all three outfield positions, mostly as center fielder.

Benard is a career .271 hitter with 54 home runs, 260 RBI, 441 runs, 138 doubles, 21 triples, and 105 stolen bases in 891 games.