Despite appearing in just 13 games in a Red Sox uniform, Benny Agbayani left a huge impact on the whole organization. And now he will be remembered forever in “Memory Lane Monday.”
The Sox selected the Hawaiian off waivers on August 26, 2002. Agbayani performed well in his short time with the team, batting .297 with eight RBI’s.
But Agbayani’s career defining moment came as a member of the New York Mets in 2000. With one out in the fourth inning, Giants catcher Bobby Estalella hit a fly pop to Agbayani in left field. Agbayani then proceeded to give the ball to a young fan in the stands, thinking it was three outs. After realizing his mistake, he pulled the ball from the hands of the young fan and fired a throw toward home plate. But the play was ruled dead as soon as the ball was in the stands, and all three runners were awarded two bases.
In his five year MLB career with three teams (he also spent time with the Colorado Rockies), Agbayani posted a .274 average with 16 homers and 66 RBI’s.
Click here for the full Memory Lane Monday archive.
