Jason Benetti Made Obscure Historical Reference
The broadcaster noted the 1663 Austro-Turkish War during a Detroit Tigers game broadcast.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Baseball
Broadcaster Jason Benetti referenced the Austro-Turkish War of 1663 while calling a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Nationals. The comment was inspired by Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, who held a 1.663 OPS at the time of the at-bat.
Why it matters
The reference provided a unique statistical observation regarding Greene's performance, highlighting the specific OPS figure through a historical connection. The moment quickly turned into a lighthearted production gag as the crew reacted to the obscure quip.
Riley Greene carried a 1.663 OPS during his appearance in the bottom of the first inning. This figure served as the numerical basis for the broadcaster's reference to the 1663 Austro-Turkish War.
The players
Jason Benetti
He is a professional play-by-play broadcaster known for his work covering Major League Baseball games.
Riley Greene
He is an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers who was at the plate during the first inning of the game.
The details
As Riley Greene stepped to the plate, Benetti drew a parallel between the player's statistical performance and the historical conflict. In response to the niche historical joke, the production crew manipulated the broadcast by zooming in on the word Geek from a SeatGeek advertisement on the outfield wall.
Timeline
The Nationals-Tigers game took place on September 21, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This moment reflects the ongoing trend of creative, off-the-cuff production decisions that have become a hallmark of professional baseball broadcasts during the 2026 season. Such unscripted interactions often define the personality of a regional broadcast as the season progresses.
The 1.663 OPS figure underscores the high level of production Greene was delivering during this specific stretch of the game. For fantasy managers, such elevated metrics indicate a hitter who is significantly over-performing against league-average pitching outcomes.
The takeaway
Broadcasters frequently utilize statistical milestones to bridge the gap between sports and general knowledge. Viewers can appreciate the spontaneous humor that arises when production teams lean into the quirky side of live sports coverage.
Further reading
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