Major League Baseball Player, Coach, Manager. Born Vernon Adair Benson, he played collegiate baseball at Catawba College in North Carolina, prior to being scouted and signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Athletics. He marked his Major League debut with the Athletics at the age of eighteen on July 31, 1943 and played in two games that year. During World War II, he served with the United States Army and saw action in the European Theater. His experience earned him an EAME Service Medal in addition to a Bronze Star. From 1947 until 1950, Benson played in the Minor Leagues and after he was acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals, he spent the next three seasons (1951 to 1953) as a backup third baseman and outfielder. In 55 regular season games, he produced a lifetime .202 batting average. After his retirement as a player, he served as a Minor League manager with the Cardinals' organization (1956 to 1961) and led his teams to two league titles. He returned to the Major League level in 1962, as a coach with the Cardinals and in 1964 (under manager Johnny Keane), he experience a world championship. Benson followed Keane to the Yankees and served on his staff in 1965 and from 1966 until 1969, he was a member of Dave Bristol's coaching staff with the Cincinnati Reds. He returned to the Cardinals for a second stint as a coach (1970 to 1975) and from 1976 to 1977, he was a member of the Atlanta Braves' coaching staff. Benson became a part of a bizarre set of circumstances during the 1977 season. The Braves were in the midst of a 16 game loosing streak when owner Ted Turner stepped in (replacing Dave Bristol) to take over managerial duties. After one game which resulted in a loss National League President Charles 'Chub' Feeney intervened by disallowing Turner to helm. Benson served as manager for one game and guided the Braves to a win which ended their seventeen game skid. Dave Bristol resumed his position as manager the following game. Benson's final field assignment was with the San Francisco Giants' coaching staff in 1980.