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Ben Weber

Born: Nov. 17, 1969                                  Groves, Texas

Southeast Texas native and professional baseball player Ben Weber learned to play baseball at an early age on the baseball diamonds of Groves, Texas. After graduating from Port Neches-Groves High School, Weber attended the University of Houston.

 

He was selected in the 20th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.  After spending six years in the Blue Jays minor league system, Weber was released and pitched in the independent Western Baseball League for the Salinas Peppers in 1996 and in Taiwan with the Taiwan Major League from 1997 to 1998. In 1999, he pitched in the San Francisco Giants minor league system. In April of 2000, Weber made his major league debut for the Giants against the Florida Marlins at the age of 30.

 

A relief pitcher, Weber was known for his distinctive pitching routine, pumping his glove up and down twice before going into his windup. Weber relied on two pitches. “Sinker, slider. I was a set-up guy. I came in and here you go, hit it. That was basically my philosophy,” Weber said.  
 
In August of 2000, he was claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Angels. Because his wife had just had triplets, Weber missed two weeks of spring training, something he credits with contributing to his good year. Working out of the bullpen, Weber went 7-2 with seven saves out of 10 opportunities, ranking him in the American League’s Top-25 for saves leaders that summer. In 63 games, he finished with an ERA of 2.54.
Weber realized the ultimate baseball player's dream when the Anaheim Angels reached the World Series against the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Ben was used four times during the seven-game world series and had three good outings. A fan favorite that year, Weber's pitching helped end a 41-year, stretch of non-championship baseball for the Angels when they won the World Series.
 
In 2003 Ben continued to pitch for the Angels and posted an ERA again below 3.00. Back and neck injuries hindered Weber’s play in 2004, and the Angels released him. In 2005, he played ten games for the Cincinnati Reds. After further attempts at a comeback proved unsuccessful, he retired in 2006. 
 
He currently resides with his wife Marisa and three children in Montgomery, Alabama where he owns his own chiropractic practice. He is an umpire in area youth leagues, and is known to give young pitchers a tip or two when asked. Ben Edward Weber was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coast, Sports Hall of Fame in November of 2003.

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