Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Benny Ayala

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Memories of
Benny Ayala

Benny Ayala
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 390 of 1252 players

Benigno Felix Ayala
Born: February 7, 1951 at Yauco, P.R.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.01 Weight: 195

Benny Ayala was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on June 9, 2003, February 7, 2004, March 20, 2004, March 25, 2004, March 26, 2004, February 7, 2006, February 3, 2016, and February 7, 2021.

First Mets game: August 27, 1974
Last Mets game: May 31, 1976

Share your memories of Benny Ayala

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Mr. Sparkle
I remember him fielding a ball in the outfield and on the through back in he threw the ball about 4 feet before it hit the ground. Nice going Benny!

JC
Benny hit a home run in his first big league at bat. At the time, Elton John's hit single was Benny and the Jets -- or course, in our family it immediately became "B-B-B-Benny and the Mets". Never did much more for the Mets, but had a credible career with Baltimore.

EG
March 18, 2001
I was surprised he actually had the career he did. Became a very useful player for Baltimore, especially in 79.

Mr. Sparkle
August 7, 2001
At tonights gane at Shea they had the usual "who said it" game. The quote was "I'm an eclipse player. I'm around once in a long while." Benny said it. How in the hell would anyone remember that?

Joe Figliola
October 31, 2001
I was 11 when I saw the game where Benny hit a home run in his first at-bat. The announcer (Lindsey, Ralph, or Murph--don't remember which one) said it was Benny's first time up in the bigs. "Gee," I said to myself, "wouldn't it be great if he hit a home run?" Lo and behold, Benny did it!
I later scored his last home run as a Met in 1976, so I guess you could say I went round trip on Benny's roundtrippers!

johnmn55
January 23, 2003
On Kiner's Korner after the homer in his first at bat (into the Loge inside the left field foul line) he knew only one phrase in ingles and said it over and over again: "high fost boll!"

HERBERT SWEET
July 4, 2003
When he hit a home run in his first major league at bat my father commented that they should have brought "Ayala up earlier".

Kenny M
August 24, 2003
I remember seeing Ayala's home run in his first at bat as well...a nice shot just to the right of the foul pole in the left field seats...seems like yesterday. As a 10 year old kid, this was the first time I saw a guy homer in first at-bat and thought to myself that he would become the greatest HR hitter of all time at that pace! After that, I realized he was just an average player and he was soon gone after doing nothing much else for the Mets. Had a decent career with the Orioles afterwards.

Bob P
February 12, 2004
Benny's homer in his first at bat came on August 27, 1974 off Houston pitcher Tom Griffin. There was one out and nobody on in the bottom of the second inning. Benny was batting sixth and playing left field that night.
I don't know about you, but I had completely forgotten that Benny made it into two World Series with the Orioles (1979 and 1983). The Mets had traded him to St. Louis during spring training in 1977 but he only got into one game for the Cards in two years with the organization. They traded him to Baltimore after the 1978 season and he spent six years as a part-time player for the Orioles. He never had more than 170 at bats in a season, but in 1980 he hit ten home runs in just those 170 at bats.
Benny wound up playing in five World Series games for Baltimore, and had a home run in game four of the 1979 Series. He had an RBI single in his only at bat of the 1983 Series and finished his post-season career with a World Championship. His post-season stats: three hits in seven at bats, one homer, four RBIs, a walk and a sac fly.
Benny became a free agent after the 1984 season and signed with Cleveland a few weeks into the 1985 season. He played in 46 games that year and then was out of the majors after 1985.

bunker
May 22, 2004
Refused an autograph to me when I was 10 years old. Rudely. Would have made sense if it was a big league type blow off, but geez, it was at Silver Stadium in Rochester (Baltimore AAA). Guess he was pissed off at the demotion. Funny thing, he went to the Orioles and probably ended up alienating fans on that side of the fence. Happily, John Stearns, who willingly went to AAA was great, chatted and signed etc. Class act.

Jamey Bumbalo
October 14, 2004
Several years after Benny's career was over, I saw him in a bar in Baltimore. The bar was a very blue collar, neighborhood place about 15 minutes from Memorial Stadium. He came in all dressed up and just hung out alone at the end of the bar. He didn't talk to anybody and nobody approached him.

Mark
July 12, 2005
Benny was supposed to be the next Roberto Clemente. It didn't quite work out that way. I'm glad he won a ring in Baltimore.

Buzz
July 16, 2005
I was 8 years old when Ayala homered in his first big league at bat and I thought it was the coolest thing!! I hated the fact that he was only on a 1975 Topps "rookie card" (with 3 other guys) because neither his stats nor any comments about him (or his homer) were listed on the back of the card.

Mike
January 26, 2006
I remember when he homered in his first MLB at bat. I was around 10 years old. I was watching on my b/w tv and was so excited. Guess after that it was downhill for him.

Undermentals
October 15, 2007
My dad took me to a meaningless Met game for my birthday in 1974 long after they had a shot at making the playoffs. We were sitting in the left field Mezzanine at Shea among this group of 10 or 12 of Benny Ayala's cousins and extended family who were thrilled to see him in his first ML game. When he homered in his first at-bat they went BERSERK, hugging and kissing everyone around, including me and my father of course. It was a great memory that I was able to recount with my dad, that always drew a smile.

bunker
October 19, 2007
I am forced to update my previous memory regarding Mr. Ayala. He sent me an e-mail apologizing (citing no memory of the event) for blowing me off up at Silver Stadium. At least I think it is him. If so, class act.

Bunker
October 5, 2008
Yes, it was indeed Mr. Ayala. All is forgiven. After thinking about it, maybe I was a little passive in asking for that autograph, and I gotta consider the language thing. Again, classy guy. gracias Benigno!

VIBaseball
May 4, 2010
These days Benny does much good work for the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT). He also helps his fellow Puerto Rican pros, especially those who are hard up, make money through autographs and memorabilia. A very good man.

Mitch45
October 6, 2010
I saw Benny's first AB homer as a 9 year old watching the game on WOR in 1974. It was a pretty good shot if I recall correctly. It hit the top of the old scoreboard in right-center. Good old Benny Ayala - providing some cheers in an otherwise depressing 1974 season for the Mets.

Ron
May 6, 2011
Benny was one of my favorite players (when he was with the O's), but I knew of him well before that thanks to his history making HR in '74. Glad he found his niche...always marveled how he could sit for days at a time then be asked to face a lefty and be able to put great swings on the ball. What an invaluable role player. Benny, I hope you're doing well!

Jackie
June 21, 2015
I remember the day as if it was yesterday my family was watching the game with his family. We were all excited to see him in that game. When he hit that home run we all went crazy.

Gets by Buckner
May 31, 2020
He hit a home run in his first MLB at bat. All my friends and I thought because of that feat he was the second coming of Willie Mays!

Alex
January 5, 2023
Fun fact from the Baseball Reference Bullpen. It's been mentioned that he hit a homer in his first career at-bat, but did you know ...
"Benny Ayala was the first member of the New York Mets and first Puerto Rican to homer in his first major league at bat, taking Tom Griffin of the Houston Astros deep on August 27, 1974"?
Also in response to a post by "bunker" from 2004 that said, "Refused an autograph to me when I was 10 years old."
Well, he hasn't changed his ways much. In 2019, I sent him an autograph request. Less than a month later, I received both cards back ... unsigned.