Allen Wilbert Benson (March 28, 1905 – November 16, 1999), nicknamed "Bullet", was a professional baseball player who played

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

in the Major Leagues in 1934. He would play for the Washington Senators. Benson played for the bearded House of David baseball team before signing with the Senators. Given the rarity of facial hair among the era's baseball players, the Senators signed Benson largely as a publicity stunt to boost attendance. He became one of very few Major League players who wore facial hair between the

deadball era In baseball, the dead-ball era was the period from around 1900 to the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919, when he hit a then-major league record 29 home runs; only three players since 1890 had even hit 20. This era was characterized ...

and the 1970s. He struggled in two games and was sent to the minor league

Albany Senators The Albany Senators was a name used by multiple minor league baseball teams representing Albany, New York, that existed between 1885 and 1959. The mid-20th century club played at Hawkins Stadium (Albany), Hawkins Stadium. The various editions of t ...

. He told reporters "I believe I could have made the grade with the Nats but for these danged whiskers."

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1999 deaths Major League Baseball pitchers Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Akron Tyrites players Baseball players from South Dakota People from Turner County, South Dakota Albany Senators players Charleroi Babes players Dallas Steers players Des Moines Demons players Harrisburg Senators players Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players 1905 births {{US-baseball-pitcher-1900s-stub