Jack Bentley (baseball)
John "Needles" Bentley was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of nine seasons with the Washington Senators, New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. For his career, he compiled a 46–33 record in 138 appearances, with a 4.01 ERA and 259 strikeouts. Bentley was a member of the Giants' pennant-winning teams in 1923 and 1924. He was 1–3 with a 4.94 ERA and 11 strikeouts in World Series play.
He was a good hitting pitcher in his major league career. In nine seasons, he compiled a.291 average with 7 home runs and 71 RBI. In 1923 Bentley batted.427 for the New York Giants. In the 1923 and 1924 World Series, he hit.417 with one home run and 2 RBI. He also played 59 games at first base and 3 games in right field in the majors.
In 1922, Bentley pitched for the minor league Baltimore Orioles in the International League, going 13-2 with a 1.73 ERA before he was called up again to the Big Leagues by the New York Giants.
He was born in Sandy Spring, Maryland, and later died in Olney, Maryland, at the age of 74.
