John Cleave "Rube" Benton (June 27, 1890 – December 12, 1937) was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds (1910–15, 1923–25) and New York Giants (1915–21).

He recovered from his injuries but was suspended by the team for the remainder of the year, and a wild lifestyle and drinking affected most of the rest of his career.

In 1914, he did straighten up his behavior for a year after signing a contract with a clause that involved abstaining from alcohol and tobacco.

His 1914 ERA of 2.96 represented a decrease of 0.54 points from the previous season; his win–loss record was 16–18, but his 16 victories came with a team that only won 60 games overall.

The Reds purchased Benton from New York in 1922, and he remained with the team until he left the major leagues after the 1925 season.