Ray Benner, former bassist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, has quietly accomplished a World Series first.

Benner, whose suburban Detroit-based McKeon Products makes and markets Mack's Pillow Soft Earplugs, says his devices were worn by the Cardinal's pitcher Joe Magrane and the outfielder Vince Coleman in the first two World Series games here at the Metrodome.

"They were the first earplugs to be used in a World Series," Benner said. "If the Cards win, you can say it's the magic secret or something. The secret weapon.. That's it."

Benner, 61 years old, said he was planning to supply the hometown Detroit Tigers with the moldable, silicone noise stoppers for their American League Championship Series games here. But the Tigers were eliminated before they got back to Minneapolis.

After the Tigers lost, Benner said, he contacted the Cardinals' trainer, Gene Gieselman, and sent the Cardinals two dozen sets of the earplugs for the first two games and another four dozen Friday morning.

"They have more than enough," he said.