Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez

by

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Sandlot. I actually remember the first time I watched it. I was nine years old when the movie came out in 1993 and I couldn’t wait to watch it.

I even remember where I was. My parents watched it with us in the living room during a movie night. Baseball has always been my favorite sport, and it looked awesome.

The first time I watched it I was hooked. The Sandlot is one of those flicks that I watch when I’m sick. I can watch it time and time and time again and it never gets old.

My wife actually gets annoyed because I can’t help but quote my favorite parts. By ‘favorite parts’ I mean the whole thing.

When I was in college, me and my buddy, Troy or T-Roy would actually quiz ourselves with Sandlot trivia. T-Roy is probably the second-best sandlot trivia guru in the world, behind myself.

The movie takes place in 1962 and it’s narrated by Scott Smalls, a young boy who moved to a new city, (San Fernando Valley) trying to make friends. (The film was actually shot in the Salt Lake City UT area) 

Scott makes his way to a local sandlot where kids are playing baseball.

The best player was Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez, or Benny ‘The Jet’ Rodriguez. Most of the other kids are mean to Scott as he’s never played before and he’s not very good. 

However, since they only had eight players, Scott Smalls could play outfield, so they can field a full team.

Benny Rodriguez who is the best player takes Scotty Smalls under his wing and helps them have the best summer of their life.

If you haven’t seen this movie, I highly recommend it. For any young baseball fan The Sandlot is an amazing movie. Highlighting America’s favorite pastime.. Just a bunch of friends out on the local baseball field enjoying the game the way it was meant to be played.

This is a very unique movie that introduces a dilemma when Scotty hits his first home run. However, the best part is that it keeps baseball at the center the entire time. The Sandlot is not just the best movie, but in my opinion, the best movie of all time.

Is The Sandlot Based On A Real Baseball Player?

SPOILER ALERT!

The end of the movie shows what happens to all the kids in the sandlot as they grow older.

The film highlights Benny Rodriguez, a local legend playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team with Scott Smalls, announcing the game. Benny enters the game as a pinch runner, and steals home to win the game against the Giants.

This scene has people asking was Benny Rodriguez, a real baseball player? 

The answer is no. Benny Rodriguez a fictional character and not a real baseball player. There was never a dodger player named Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez. However, if I was constructing a baseball team full of fictional characters, Benny ‘The Jet’ Rodriguez would definitely be in the starting lineup. 

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez was played by Michael Vitar. Michael also played Luis Mendoza in the last two mighty ducks movies.

BENNY ‘THE JET’ RODRIGUEZ, where is he now?

The actor who played Benny, Mike Vitar, currently lives in Los Angeles. He was born in 1978. He was 15 years old when he appeared in The Sandlot. He is currently a firefighter for the Los Angeles fire department. 

Benny, although fictional, is one of my favorite baseball players of all time.

His love for the game is contagious. I tried to play baseball, the same way that Benny did. All Benny wanted to do was play baseball. So, even though Benny isn’t a real character, I still looked up to him and tried to be like Benny. Not just because of the way he played baseball but the way he treated Scott Smalls. He is a great role model.  Baseball IS LIFE.

What number was Benny the jet Rodriguez?

While on the sandlot, no kids wore numbers. Part of what makes the sandlot so great is that you just showed up in regular clothes and played baseball. In the last scene when Benny is playing for the Dodgers he is wearing number 3.

Benny gets put into the game as a pinch runner and steals home to win the game.

I kind of wish they had Bennie wearing PF Flyers, even when he was on the Dodgers. Guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher. 

What position did Benny ‘The Jet’ play? 

The movie never really says what position Benny was. He enters the game for the Dodgers as a pinch runner.

Since Benny was known for his speed, I always envision him as an outfielder. Most likely center field.

However, Benny was probably brought up to the Dodgers as a professional athlete because of his speed and I used him as a pinch runner a lot. Of course, none of this is based on facts. It’s 100% assumption based on what I know about Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez.

Is there another Benny ‘The Jet’?

The movie sandlot created Benny ‘The Jet’. His name in the movie was Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez.

There is, however, a mai tai boxer nicknamed Benny ‘The Jet’. 

His real name was Benny Urquidez. He was born in 1952. He actually had a pretty impressive career.

He had 49 wins one loss and one draw. Of his 49 wins he had 35 knockouts. 

As impressive as this sounds he is still the second best Benny ‘The Jet’. He doesn’t even sniff Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez, the real ‘JET’. 

Top three scenes with Benny the jet Rodriguez

1. Benny gives Smalls his hat and glove 

Scott Smalls shows up to the field with an old plastic glove, and a ridiculous looking fishing hat.

After encouraging Scott to come back to the sandlot, he clues hit man on what to wear and gives him his old gear.

2. Benny’s dream with Babe Ruth 

Benny has a dream and Babe Ruth gives him advice to challenge the beast. During the dream Babe Ruth appears, and has a conversation with Benny.

He encourages him to hop the fence and challenge the beast. The dream ends with a great quote. ‘Heroes get remembered kid, but legends never die.’

3. Benny pickles the beast 

After the dream Benny pulls out his PF flyers. Shoes guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher.

He jumps over the fence and grabs the ball and the chase is on. Benny ‘The Jet’  became a legend that day.

Here is a hilarious breakdown of the showdown between Benny the and the beast. Excuse the language.

3 Best Scenes From Sandlot

1.The Omen Scene  

This is one of my favorite scenes of the movie. I don’t think it gets a ton of credit from other fans, but it gives me the chills every time I watch it.

Benny hits the cover off of a baseball right after the neighborhood 4th of July Party. The team realizes that Benny is something special.

The part of the scene that is so great is that Benny is upset because the game is over and the boys are speechless because that has never happened before. The team had never seen anything like it before, and they thought for sure it meant something great was about to take place.

2. The tree house scene 

This is one of the funniest parts of the movie in my opinion. This is where you meet ‘The Beast’ (Hercules) which is the dog next-door. The boys all get together for a sleep over in the tree house.

Every ball that goes over the fence is a product of ‘The Beast’. You also learn how to make a s’more in the scene. The entire sandlot team shows up to the tree house and hear the story that kicks off the movies plot. Scotty Smalls is the new kid in town and has never heard about the BEAST.

3.You play ball like a girl 

Hands-down the best scene in sandlot is when the sandlot team square off against the local Little League team.

The Little leaguers rides up on their bikes and their uniforms and have an exchange with the sandlot kids.

The back-and-forth is hilarious, and the best comeback was by Hamilton Porter, which was ‘YOU PLAY BALL LIKE A GIRL.’ everyone is silenced and then there’s a challenge to a game.

Needless to say from the sandlot team dominated the Little League team when they meet up to play head to head game. 

There’s so many great scenes in the movie Sandlot. This top three is definitely up for debate. However, for me, these are my favorites.

One hilarious side note on this scene was when one of the kids throws his glove down as they are walking up, and hit smashes Tommy in the face. Not sure how yeah yeah or the whole team didn’t start cracking up when he saw it.

The Pool

The only other part I have to mention is when the team goes to the local pool. Sqints fakes like he’s drowning and the life guard on duty (Wendy Peffercorn) jumps in to save him. She gives him CPR and Sqints steals his first kiss. Later you find out he and Wendy Peffercorn got married and had 9 kids. They still own Vincents Drug store to this day. HA!

 

Conclusion

Sandlot is the best movie ever. What makes this movie so great is how it stays true to America’s favorite pastime. It’s a great baseball movie.

There is some mild language, however, I don’t find it vulgar or in your face. I’ve let my kids watch this movie at a very young age.

It remembers a simpler time and showcases why baseball is one of the best sports ever.

Sandlot does a great job introducing a dilemma about keeping the pure part of Baseball at the center. Kids growing up together getting into a little bit of trouble building camaraderie all around the baseball field is what it’s all about.

I would probably say that Scott Smalls is the main character of the movie. He is the narrator and the movie is about his experience.

However, Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez is the true hero of the story. Not only does he challenge the beast and save the day but he is also an amazing role model and shows the kids how to be a good friend.

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez, or Benny ‘The Jet’, is definitely one of my favorite characters in my favorite movie The Sandlot.

Until next time,

Coach Scott

PLAY BALL!