Books and articles about Benito Santiago

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Able to zip the ball on a line to any base from his knees, Santiago has the deadliest throwing arm among active ML catchers, but he has struggled offensively after a sensational rookie season, and his all-around defensive play remains sloppy. He was a unanimous choice as NL Rookie of the Year in 1987, when he hit .300 with 18 HR, 79 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, threw out 33% of the opposition's basestealers, and set a ML rookie record with a 34-game hitting streak (finally broken by Orel Hershiser). The streak was also a club record, and a ML record for catchers. Santiago's throwing improved in 1988, as he began to show off his lightning-quick from-the-knees throw more regularly. He threw out 45% of the basestealers who dared run against him, and picked off nine runners - seven at second base. His hitting, however, slumped badly (.248, 10 HR, 46 RBI), and although he won a Gold Glove, he still led NL catchers in errors for the second consecutive season with 12. (SCL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 25, 1987: In the Padres 5–3 loss to the Dodgers, Padres catcher Benito Santiago hits in his 27th straight game to tie the major-league record for rookies. » September 26, 1987: Benito Santiago extends his hitting streak to 28 games in a 3–1 loss to the Dodgers, setting a new major-league record for rookies. Pittsburgh's Jimmy Williams had held the record with a 27-game streak in 1899. » October 3, 1987: Benito Santiago goes 0-for-3 against Orel Hershiser in San Diego's 1–0 win over Los Angeles, ending his ML-rookie-record hitting streak at 34 consecutive games. Santiago's streak is also the longest ever by a catcher. The win snaps the Padres' 9-game losing streak. » November 4, 1987: Padres catcher Benito Santiago is a unanimous selection as the National League Rookie of the Year, now called the Jackie Robinson Award, while Pirates pitcher Mike Dunne is the second choice on 22 of 24 ballots. » July 2, 1991: After grounding out in a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers, Padres C Benito Santiago throws his batting helmet in disgust. The helmet bounces into the dugout, where it strikes pitching coach Mike Roarke in the head before ricocheting over to bean coach Greg Riddoch, giving him a concussion. Santiago is fined $300. » December 16, 1992: The Marlins sign free agent C Benito Santiago to a 2-year contract. Santiago, who went 272 games with the Padres without a passed ball, will have 11 this year trying to catch Charlie Hough. » January 30, 1996: The Phillies sign free agent C Benito Santiago. » July 28, 1996: Padres' C John Flaherty has his 27-game hitting streak stopped by the Marlins in the Padres' 8-2 win. The streak is the 2nd-longest ever by a catcher behind Benito Santiago's Padres' record. » September 15, 1996: Philadelphia C Benito Santiago drives in all his team's runs with three consecutive home runs in the Phillies' 6-1 win over the Cubs At Wrigley. Santiago will hit a homer tomorrow in his first at bat to tie a record for consecutive homers. » December 9, 1996: The Blue Jays sign free agent C Benito Santiago to a 2-year contract. » January 4, 1998: Blue Jays C Benito Santiago is injured when he loses control of the car he is driving and crashes into a tree in Ft. Lauderdale. Toronto also loses 1B Carlos Delgado to a shoulder injury which he sustains while diving for a ball in a game in Puerto Rico. He will be lost to the team until late April. » December 7, 1998: The Cubs sign free agent 3B Gary Gaetti, free agent OF Glenallen Hill, and tomorrow sign free agent C Benito Santiago. Following a car crash last January where he suffered mangled ligaments in his right knee, Santiago played just 15 games in 1998 for the Blue Jays. In his last appearance at Wrigley Field, in 1996, Santiago hit three consecutive home runs. » May 4, 1999: Mark McGwire hit a grand slam off Greg Maddux. It is the 12th grand slam of McGwire's career and just the 2nd regular season grand slam that Maddux has allowed (the 1st was to Benito Santiago in 1996). The Cardinals scored six runs in the 2nd off Maddux, which was the 1st time he's allowed six runs in an inning. For McGwire, it is also his 100th home run with the Cardinals, becoming the 24th player to hit 100+ home run with more than one franchise and the 14th player to hit 100+ home run in both leagues. » April 28, 2002: The Giants edge the Reds, 5–4, behind homers by Reggie Sanders and Benito Santiago. Robb Nen relieves in the 8th after Adam Dunn hits a 2-run home run. An insurance run in the top of the 9th offsets another Dunn homer, off Nen. Ump union head John Hirschbeck tells fellow ump Mark Carlson not to issue a warning to Reds P Gabe White after a pitch sails over the head of Barry Bonds. Hirschbeck will be sent a warning letter about this, which will end up before a judge. » April 30, 2002: For the 2nd day in a row, Barry Bonds belts two homers to lead the Giants to a 12–0 rout of the Dodgers. Winner Russ Ortiz helps with a 2–run home run and batterymate Benito Santiago chips in a 3–run home run. Going back to last year, Bonds is now 10 for his last 14 at bats, with seven homers. » June 21, 2002: The Marlins defeat the Tigers, 4–1, as Luis Castillo extends his hitting streak to 35 games with a 3rd inning infield hit. Castillo's streak is the longest ever by a Latin player, surpassing Benito Santiago's 34–game streak on 1987. » October 9, 2002: Kirk Rueter hurls the Giants to a 9–6 win over the Cardinals in the opener of the NLCS. Kenny Lofton, Benito Santiago, and David Bell homer for SF while Luis Pujols, Miguel Cairo, and JD Drew connect for St. Louis. » October 13, 2002: The Giants defeat the Cardinals, 4–3, to move within one game of the World Series. Benito Santiago's 2–run home run in the 8th inning is the deciding blow. Todd Worrell wins the game in relief for the Giants.