Todd Eric Benzinger

Todd was born on February 11th, 1963, in Dayton, Kentucky, to Joan and Joe Benzinger. He grew up and graduated from New Richmond in 1981. He was drafted that same year by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the MLB June Amateur Draft. His MLB debut came on June 21st, 1987, with Boston. Todd joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1989 and was a member of the 1990 World Series Champions, where he caught the last out in the 9th inning of Game 4 to sweep the Oakland A’s.

Since retiring from Major League Baseball, Todd has remained an active member of the Cincinnati Reds and local baseball communities.

On May 23, 2015, Todd married Nicole Roberts, and together they shared 11 years of marriage and 17 years of life together.

Todd loved sports, history, music, film, traveling and his family. He could often be found coaching his kids in whatever sport they were playing or watching an obscure documentary about Björn Borg’s dominant tennis run in the mid-’70s. He was devoted to staying in elite shape and letting it be known that he could still beat his kids in competitive games.

Above all, Todd cherished his family, and he will be remembered for the lessons of curiosity, kindness, and generosity- gifts that honor him each time we pass them onto others in our own lives.

Todd is survived by his spouse, Nicole Benzinger; his children, Justine Benzinger, Kelcey, Presley (Eric) Van Benschoten, Grant Benzinger, Brooklyn Benzinger and Braxton Benzinger; three grandchildren, Daphne, Violet and Henry; his siblings Holly, Joey, Lynn, and Brian, and many nieces, nephews, and so many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Joan, and his sister, Kimberly Stigler.

A public visitation will be held at the Champions Club at Great American Ballpark on Monday, November 2, from 12:30 to 2:00. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to support Todd's two young children may make a contribution in the name of Brooklyn or Braxton Benzinger to: www.crowdfunder.com/p/qr/QWa66KLn?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink

To understand how Todd viewed sports, and his belief that you can achieve whatever you set out to accomplish, this quote he told the Dayton Daily News after sweeping the Oakland A’s in the 1990 World Series encapsulates it perfectly: “I don’t care if they didn’t play well. I don’t care if they did play well. We played so well they couldn’t have beat us anyway.”