Alan Benes, a Lake Forest High School baseball player, pitched for Creighton University in its 1991 College World Series appearance. He began a Major League career in 1995, pitching in three games with the St. Louis Cardinals before winning 22 games over the 1996-97 seasons with the same team. He was sidelined with an arm injury the next year before limited action in subsequent seasons with the Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers.

An older brother, Andy Benes, who played high school baseball in Indiana and was the No. 1 draft choice in 1988, had a 14-year MLB pitching career highlighted by his 1993 All-Star selection. Alan and Andy were Cardinal teammates. Their younger brother, Adam, played for LFHS and pitched six years in the minor leagues.