Squeezing the final out of the 1990 World Series in his glove, a hometown first baseman from just across the river from Cincinnati sealed one of the most celebrated championships in Reds history. Todd Benzinger, the switch-hitter who starred for the Boston Red Sox during their 1988 “Morgan Magic” run and helped the Reds sweep the heavily favoured Oakland Athletics, died on October 21, 2026. He was 63.

Todd Eric Benzinger was born on February 11, 1963, in Dayton, Kentucky, and graduated from New Richmond High School in New Richmond, Ohio. He came up through the Red Sox farm system, playing for Elmira, Winston-Salem, Winter Haven, New Britain and Pawtucket, before making his major league debut with Boston on June 21, 1987.

In 1988, Benzinger became a fan favourite during the Red Sox’s surge under new manager Joe Morgan, delivering a string of clutch hits that included a 10th-inning walk-off home run on July 20, a night some Boston fans still call “The Benzinger Game.” In early 1989, he ended Orel Hershiser’s record scoreless streak at 59 innings with a first-inning RBI hit in the Dodgers ace’s first start of the season.

Benzinger joined his hometown Cincinnati Reds in 1989 and led the National League with 628 at-bats. The following year, he played a key role on Lou Piniella’s Reds, who swept the Oakland Athletics in four games to win the 1990 World Series, and he caught the final out in the ninth inning of Game 4 to clinch the title.

He went on to play for the Kansas City Royals in 1991, the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 and the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 1995, playing mostly at first base with occasional time in the outfield. After a final stint with the Columbus Clippers, a New York Yankees affiliate, he retired in 1995 with a .257 career average, 66 home runs and 376 runs batted in over nine seasons.

After baseball, Benzinger coached the girls’ basketball team at Loveland High School in Loveland, Ohio, from 2006 to 2008, and later managed the Dayton Dragons, the Reds’ Class A affiliate, in 2009 and 2010. His son, Grant, starred for Wright State’s basketball team, earning MVP honours at the 2018 Horizon League Tournament as the Raiders won the conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Todd Benzinger leaves behind a career filled with memorable moments in Boston and Cincinnati, and a lasting place in the hearts of Reds fans who will never forget the championship he helped deliver. The local kid who grew up within sight of Riverfront Stadium ended the 1990 season holding the ball that made Cincinnati champions, and that image will forever be part of the city’s proud baseball story.