Former Major League Baseball player Todd Benzinger, a member of the Cincinnati Reds' 1990 World Series championship team, died on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. He was 63 years old. The Reds organization announced his death the following day. No cause of death was provided in the official announcements.
Benzinger, a native of New Richmond, Ohio, was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 1981 draft. He played nine seasons in the major leagues between 1987 and 1995, representing the Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants. He was traded to Cincinnati in December 1988 in a deal that sent Nick Esasky to Boston.
During his three seasons with the Reds from 1989 to 1991, Benzinger recorded a .241 batting average with 23 home runs and 133 RBIs. He is best known for catching the final out of the 1990 World Series—a pop-up by Oakland’s Carney Lansford—to secure a four-game sweep and the fifth championship in franchise history. Following his playing career, he served as the manager for the Class-A Dayton Dragons from 2009 to 2010.
The scale of his impact is reflected in his involvement with the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as recurring public events like Redsfest and the Reds Caravan. While the specific number of fans and students he mentored in New Richmond was not reported, his role as a manager for the Dayton Dragons placed him in a leadership position over professional prospects during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Fans who followed the 1990 championship run will note the loss of a player who started at first base in the clinching games of that series.
Benzinger’s death marks the loss of a local figure who transitioned from a professional athlete to a community contributor. His presence was a regular feature at the Reds Legends Remember program and Fantasy Camps, where he interacted with the public. Regarding what happens next, the Reds organization stated he would be remembered with gratitude for his place in the team's history. No information regarding public memorials, funeral services, or specific deadlines for tributes was included in the initial reports.