Steven Laurence Benson

Steven Laurence Benson, 66 of Culver City, unfortunately departed this place we all call home

on February 26th, 2024. He was found unresponsive as he was doing his daily duties, working for United Airlines at LAX International Airport. Steve "Scooter," “Scoot,” Benson was everything baseball. He graduated in 1975 from Culver City High School, where he played 1 year of Varsity football and 3 years of Varsity baseball. He was inducted into the Culver City High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. In June 1975, he was selected in the 16th round of the MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics, which he declined, and went to Arizona Western College. In January 1976, he was selected in the 2nd round of the January Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins and signed his first professional contract. His mother Dot says, when Steve received his signing bonus, he went right down to the Pontiac dealership and bought his beautiful Trans Am off the show room floor! It was his second prized possession, as his baseball glove was the first. He played eight years of professional baseball with the organizations of the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and the San Diego Padres. After he left professional baseball, he continued the baseball tradition by coaching alongside his childhood classmate and best “buddy” Rick Prieto in 1995. Steve met many longtime friends through coaching at CCHS baseball, such as Jesse Plasencia, Jaime Miranda, Ron Ozaki, and Ray Ikegami to name a few. Steve loved being part of the CCHS Baseball program and just being at the field, whether it was helping Rick coach, helping with

field maintenance, or teaching up and coming young players, like his friends Sawyer and Everest, learn the game and skills of baseball. He had, and, made so many close friends from teammates on the Men’s League teams: Toro Giants, Kings, and Cubs. Here are just a few, John Romero, Whitaker, Sergio Del Prado, X-ray, Steve Birkett, Jake Alba, Mark Farnham, Johnny Violet, Eric Orue, and so many more. Every aspect of baseball life made him happy. Steve had other passions as well. He was an avid deep-sea fisherman, skier, and surfer. He loved going to the family cabin in Big Bear with his family or friends and started a tradition in 2010 to go every September on vacation to Hawaii with his mom Dot. They were regular guests at the Outrigger Hotel in Waikiki. He is survived by his beautiful mother Dorothy McGrew, nephews Christopher, Elliott, & Nicholas Benson, uncle and aunt, Don & Jennifer Wood, cousins Amy & Scott, and great niece and nephew, Loren & Lincoln. His stepdad Dan McGrew and brother Michael Benson preceded him in death and Steve will be laid to rest beside Michael and his grandparents, Jessie & Ted. He also leaves behind his baseball brothers, goddaughter Sandra, and numerous friends young & old. Life is not a fairytale; yet we should always be grateful and cherish the time we have with each other and the memories we make.

Mahalo Steve for the memories!