Eddie Bennett

AKA:

Baseballs Most Famous Mascot

Birth Name:

Edward Bennett

Birth Date:

1904

Birth Place:

Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York

Death Date:

01/16/1935

Place of Death:

115 W. 84th Street, Manhattan, New York

Age:

Cause of Death:

Alcoholism

Cemetery Name:

St. John Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Sports

Eddie Bennett was an American batboy and mascot for several teams, most notably the New York Yankees during the 1920s and 1930s. At the time of his death, Bennett was considered to be the "most famous mascot in the world". Bennet had a spinal injury when he was very young which resulted in a hunchback. He was considered to be a "good luck charm" by the members of the club, and became a well-known celebrity in New York. On May 19, 1932, Bennett was hit by a taxi on a New York City street. He suffered a broken leg and other injuries from which he never recovered. To find relief from the pain he suffered from the injuries, Bennett started to abuse alcohol. He was forced to retire as the Yankees mascot in the middle of 1933 season, although Ruppert insisted he remain on the payroll all year. The New York Times reported that the "notoriously superstitious" ballplayers and fans blamed Bennett's absence on the Yankees' failure to win the pennant in 1933 and 1934. In January 1935, Bennett died penniless due to alcoholism.

Fun Fact

When Eddie Bennett died penniless in a rooming house in Manhattan, New York not a single member of the Yankee organization attended his funeral.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

St. John Cemetery

80-01 Metropolitan Avenue

Middle Village, New York, 11379

USA

North America

Map:

Grave Location:

Section 34, Row DD, Grave 64

Grave Location Description

After entering the cemetery’s east entrance, take the first gate on your left to head southwest. Head along this road for about 0.3 miles. Edward’s Bennett nameplate will be located in the grassy section on your left. His grave is near the road, and about 50 feet southeast of the intersection between Sections 34, 40, and 42.