Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez is the star player and leader of the kids in The Sandlot, the 1993 baseball movie. Played by Mike Vitar, Benny earns his nickname by outrunning the Beast, the giant dog next door, to rescue a ball signed by Babe Ruth. In the final scene, a grown up Benny steals home for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The chart below covers Benny’s story and the full cast.
The Sandlot
Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez and the whole sandlot crew
Who Benny is, how he got his nickname and who played every character.
Benny “The Jet” at a glance
Played by
Mike Vitar as a kid; his brother Pablo P. Vitar as grown up Benny
Movie
The Sandlot, released in 1993 and directed by David Mickey Evans
Role on the team
The best player and leader of the sandlot crew
Signature move
Speed; he outruns everyone, which earns him his nickname
How he got “The Jet”
Racing the Beast across town to win back the ball signed by Babe Ruth
What he wore
Black PF Flyers, the shoes that became famous thanks to the movie
Big league career
In the final scene, grown up Benny plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers and steals home
Friendship
He takes new kid Scotty Smalls under his wing and teaches him to play
The Sandlot cast
Benny Rodriguez
Mike Vitar
Hamilton “Ham” Porter
Patrick Renna
Michael “Squints” Palledorous
Chauncey Leopardi
Alan “Yeah Yeah” McClennan
Marty York
Kenny DeNunez
Brandon Quintin Adams
Bertram Grover Weeks
Grant Gelt
Timmy Timmons
Victor DiMattia
Tommy “Repeat” Timmons
Shane Obedzinski
Mr. Mertle
James Earl Jones
Bill, Smalls’ stepdad
Denis Leary
Wendy Peffercorn
Marley Shelton
Adult Smalls, the narrator
Arliss Howard
The Sandlot was followed by two direct to video sequels, The Sandlot 2 (2005) and The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007).
Why Benny Is Still a Baseball Icon
Benny is the kid every young ballplayer wanted to be: the best player on the field who still makes room for the new kid. His rundown against the Beast in a pair of black PF Flyers is one of the most famous chase scenes in sports movies, and it turned the shoes into a lasting pop culture item. His big league ending, stealing home in a Dodgers uniform while his old friend calls the game, ties the story together.
What Happened to Mike Vitar
Mike Vitar also played Luis Mendoza in D2: The Mighty Ducks and D3: The Mighty Ducks, then stepped away from acting and became a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Related
Why baseball players eat sunflower seeds · Why is it called a shortstop · Best tee ball games for kids
The National Baseball Hall of Fame covers Babe Ruth, whose signed ball drives the story, and IMDb lists the full Sandlot cast.
