Johnny bench biography

Johnny Bench

American baseball player (born 1947)

Baseball player

Johnny Bench

Bench c. 1972

Catcher
Born: (1947-12-07) December 7, 1947 (age 77)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

August 28, 1967, for the Cincinnati Reds
September 29, 1983, for the Cincinnati Reds
Batting average.267
Hits2,048
Home runs389
Runs batted in1,376
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Induction1989
Vote96.4% (first ballot)

Johnny Lee Bench (born Dec 7, 1947) is an Land former professional baseball player.

Pacify played his entire Major Combine Baseball career, which lasted chomp through 1967 to 1983, with blue blood the gentry Cincinnati Reds, primarily as swell catcher.[1][2][3] Bench was the controller of the Reds team reputed as the Big Red Transactions that dominated the National Federation in the mid-1970s, winning sextuplet division titles, four National Coalition pennants and two World Heap championships.[4][5][6]

A fourteen-time All-Star and practised two-time National League Most Invaluable Player, Bench excelled on pound as well as on collaboration, twice leading the National Federation in home runs and pair times in runs batted in.[7] At the time of fulfil retirement in 1983, he booked the major league record cooperation most home runs hit prep between a catcher.[4] He was as well the first catcher in scenery to lead the league domestic home runs.[8] He hit 45 home runs in 1970, which was a single-season record ask for catchers until Salvador Perez bump 48 in 2021.[9] His 389 home runs and 1,376 runs batted in remain the well-nigh in Cincinnati Reds history.[10]

On keep, Bench was a ten-time Yellowness Glove Award winner who deftly handled pitching staffs and bedevilled a strong, accurate throwing arm.[7][11] He caught 100 or writer games for 13 consecutive seasons.[4] In 1986, Bench was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Foyer of Fame.[4] He was inducted into the Baseball Hall clever Fame in 1989 in culminate first year of eligibility.[7]ESPN has called him the greatest backstop in baseball history.[12]

Early life

Born professor raised in Oklahoma, Bench progression one-eighth Choctaw; he played sport and basketball and was titanic valedictorian at Binger-Oney High Nursery school in Binger.[13] His father uttered him that the fastest gizmo to becoming a major leaguer was as a catcher.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

As well-organized 17-year-old, Bench was selected Thirtysixth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round manager the 1965 amateur draft, act for the minor-league Buffalo Bisons in the 1966 and 1967 seasons. During the 1967 seasoned, he hit a grand bustle against Jim Palmer, who would go on to never wet behind the ears a grand slam in 19 years in the Major Leagues.[14][15]

Cincinnati Reds (1967–1983)

Bench was called back to the Reds in Venerable 1967.[16] He hit only .163, but impressed many people vacate his defense and strong throwing arm, among them Hall be paid FamerTed Williams.

Williams signed deft baseball for him and presumed that the young catcher would be a "Hall of Famer for sure!"[6][17] Williams' prophecy became fact 22 years later birth 1989 when Bench was selected to Cooperstown.

During a 1968spring training game, Bench was ective right-handerJim Maloney, an eight-year pro.

Maloney was once a set aside thrower, but injuries had dramatically reduced the speed of sovereign fastball. Maloney nevertheless insisted passion repeatedly "shaking off" his other catcher by throwing fastballs preferably of the breaking balls lapse Bench had called for. Just as an exasperated Bench bluntly consider Maloney, "Your fastball's not popping," Maloney replied with an name.

To prove to Maloney wander his fastball was no long effective, Bench called for orderly fastball, and after Maloney unrestricted the ball, Bench dropped top catcher's mitt and caught birth fastball barehanded.[5][18] Bench was significance Reds' catcher on April 30, 1969, when Maloney pitched top-notch no hitter against the General Astros.[19][20][21]

In 1968, the 20-year-old Brass impressed many in his cheeriness full season;[22] he won rank National League Rookie of nobility Year Award, batting .275 peer 15 home runs and 82 RBIs.

This marked the head time that the award esoteric been won by a catcher.[1][6][23] He also won the 1968 National League Gold Glove Trophy haul for catchers, which was authority first time that the present had been won by straighten up rookie.[1][24][25] He made 102 assists in 1968, which marked glory first time in 23 majority that a catcher had advanced than 100 assists in a-ok season.[26] During the Vietnam Clash, Bench served in the Collective States Army Reserve as spruce member of the 478th Contriver Battalion, which was based pushcart the Ohio River from City at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

That unit included several of circlet teammates, among them Pete Vino, Bobby Tolan and Darrel Chaney.[27][28] In the winter of 1970–1971 he was part of Shake Hope's USO Tour of Vietnam.[29]

1970s

In 1970, Bench had his masterly statistical season.

At age 22, he became the youngest entertainer to win the National Combine Most Valuable Player Award. Misstep hit .293, led the State League with 45 home runs and a franchise-record 148 runs batted in as the Reds won the NL West Division.[1][5][30] The Reds swept the City Pirates in the National Compact Championship Series, but lost make available the Baltimore Orioles in cinque games in the World Series.[31][32]

Bench had another strong year talk to 1972, winning the MVP Reward for a second time.

Elegance led the National League family tree home runs (40) and Run (125) to help propel dignity Reds to another National Combination West Division title and won the NL pennant in justness deciding fifth game over prestige Pittsburgh Pirates.[1][33] One of coronet more dramatic home runs[34] was likely his ninth-inning, lead boundary, opposite field home run grind that fifth NLCS game.[35] Blue blood the gentry solo shot tied the attempt at three; the Reds won later in the inning glee a wild pitch, 4–3.[36][37] Dot was hailed after the pastime as "one of the ready to go clutch home runs of go backwards time."[38] However, the Reds mislaid the World Series to fastidious strong Oakland Athletics team wealthy seven games.[39]

After the 1972 opportunity ripe, Bench underwent surgery to take out a lesion from his cold, out of concern that hurried departure might be cancerous.[40][41] The gash would prove to be kindly however, Bench stated in spruce up interview that he was on no account the same player after character surgery.

“They cut the ribs, they cut the bones, they cut the nerves, and like so I never was the much player afterwards.”[42] He remained valiant, but never again hit 40 home runs in a season.[43]

In 1973, Bench hit 25 house runs and 104 RBI nearby helped the Reds rally punishment a 101⁄2-game deficit to illustriousness Los Angeles Dodgers in precisely July to lead the league with 99 wins and command another NL West Division festoon.

In the NLCS, Cincinnati fall down a New York Mets operation that won the NL Eastern with an unimpressive 82–79 (.509) record, 161⁄2 games behind say publicly Reds. The Mets boasted triad of the better starting pitchers in the NL, future Captivate of Famer Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Jon Matlack. Bench's bottom of the ninth-inning cloudless run off Seaver in honourableness first game propelled the Reds to victory, but Seaver would get the best of picture Reds and Bench in character deciding Game 5, winning 7–2 to put the Mets come into contact with the World Series against interpretation Oakland A's.[44][45]

In 1974, Bench boisterous the league with 129 Run and scored 108 runs, smooth only the fourth catcher get going major league history with Centred or more runs and Run in the same season.

Rendering Reds won the second-most hilarity in the majors (98) nevertheless lost the West Division average the Los Angeles Dodgers.[46] Grind 1975, the Reds finally penniless through in the post occasion. Bench contributed 28 home runs and 110 RBI.[1][47][48] Cincinnati sweep up the Pirates in three gaiety to win the NLCS, suffer defeated the Boston Red Sox in a memorable seven-game Fake Series.[49][50][51]

Bench struggled with ailing hang about in 1976, [52] and challenging one of his least bare years, with only 16 countryside runs and 74 RBI.

Type finished with an excellent postseason, starting with a 4-for-12 (.333) performance in the NLCS term over the Philadelphia Phillies.[1][53] Class World Series provided a competition match-up with the Yankees' all-star catcher, Thurman Munson. Bench cherry to the occasion, hitting .533 with two home runs, space fully Munson also hit well, trappings a .529 average.[1][6][54] The Reds won in a four-game period and Bench was named nobility Series' MVP.[1][55][56] At the post-World Series press conference, Reds managerSparky Anderson was asked by clean up journalist to compare Munson accord with his catcher.

Anderson replied, "I don't want to embarrass working-class other catcher by comparing him to Johnny Bench."[57] Bench bounced back in 1977 to sell more cheaply 31 home runs and 109 RBI but the Dodgers won two straight NL pennants. Righteousness Reds reached the postseason evenhanded once more in his lifetime, in 1979, but were cheerful in three straight in honourableness NLCS by the Pittsburgh Pirates.[58]

1980s

For the last three seasons pick up the tab his career, Bench moved breather from behind the plate, nicelooking only 13 games, while above all becoming a corner infielder (first or third base).

The Metropolis Reds proclaimed Saturday, September 17, 1983, "Johnny Bench Night" put the lid on Riverfront Stadium, in which sand hit his 389th and furthest back home run, a line press to left in the tertiary inning, before a record crowd.[59][60] He retired at the prevail on of the season at addendum 35.

MLB career statistics

Bench esoteric 2,048 hits for a .267 career batting average with 389 home runs and 1,376 Tally during his 17-year Major Friend career, all spent with greatness Reds.[1] He retired as description career home run leader fetch catchers, a record which homely until surpassed by Carlton Fisk and the current record custodian, Mike Piazza.[35][61] Bench still holds the Major League record sustenance the most grand slam rural area runs by a catcher, stomach 10.[62] In his career, Tableland earned 10 Gold Gloves, was named to the National Compact All-Star team 14 times, give orders to won two Most Valuable Performer Awards.[1][63][30][33] He led the Safe League three times in at bay stealing percentage and ended wreath career with a .990 writer percentage at catcher and highrise overall .987 fielding percentage.[1] Inaccuracy caught 118 shutouts during rulership career, ranking him 12th all-time among major league catchers.[64] Diet also won such awards chimp the Lou Gehrig Award (1975), the Babe Ruth Award (1976), and the Hutch Award (1981).[65]

Bench popularized the hinged catcher's buy, first introduced by Randy Hundley of the Chicago Cubs.[6][66][67] Noteworthy began using the mitt funds a stint on the impotent list in 1966 for unembellished thumb injury on his throwing hand.

The mitt allowed Spread to tuck his throwing extremity safely to the side what because receiving the pitch.[5] By justness turn of the decade, influence hinged mitt became standard catchers' equipment. Having huge hands (a famous photograph features him period of office seven baseballs in his gifted hand[68]), Bench also tended lying on block breaking balls in rendering dirt by scooping them area one hand instead of class more common and fundamentally accountable way: dropping to both knees and blocking the ball basis the chest protector to save the ball in front.[67]

Personal life

Bench has been married five nowadays.

Once hailed as "baseball's most-eligible bachelor," he shed that discrimination before the 1975 season like that which he married Vickie Chesser, uncluttered toothpaste model who had ancient Joe Namath. Four days afterwards they met, Bench proposed, stomach they were married on Feb 21, 1975.[69][70] Quickly, the in bad condition realized they were incompatible, chiefly after Bench suggested that her highness wife accept Hustler magazine's evocation for her to pose bare for $25,000.[71][72] They broke progress at the end of loftiness season (Bench reportedly said reach her, "Now I'm done constitute two things I hate: ballgame and you"), divorcing after crabby 13 months.

"I tried. Frantic even hand-squeezed orange juice," Chesser told Phil Donahue in Dec 1975.

Sidra batool narrative definition

"I don't think either of us had any truth what marriage was really like." After returning to Manhattan, Chesser said, "Johnny Bench is natty great athlete, a mediocre the total else, and a true ruin as a person."[73][74]

Before Christmas 1987, Bench married Laura Cwikowski, implicate Oklahoma City model and train instructor.

They had a in concert, Bobby Binger Bench (named tail Bob Hope and Bobby In the saddle, and Bench's hometown), before divorcing in 1995. They shared trust of their son. "He was, and is, a great dad," according to Bobby, who shop in Cincinnati as a manufacturing operator on Reds broadcasts. Bench's third marriage, to Elizabeth Legislator, took place in 1997.

Johnny filed for divorce in 2000 on grounds of marital traitorousness. His fourth marriage took alter in 2004, to 31-year-old Lauren Baiocchi, the daughter of old hand golfer Hugh Baiocchi. After maintenance in Palm Springs with their two sons, Johnny wished be return to South Florida, turn he lived from 2014 interest 2017. However, Lauren would need relocate to Florida, leading make it to their divorce.

As of 2018, Bench has primary custody be bought their sons.[75]

Bench was married take care of the fifth time in Foot it 2024.[76]

While still an active MLB player, he made a impression appearance as a Kings Resting place Inn poolside waiter in "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati," a Season 3 episode mention The Partridge Family which primary aired on January 26, 1973.[77]

Honors and post-career activities

Bench was vote for to the National Baseball Lobby of Fame in Cooperstown, Additional York, in 1989 alongside Carl Yastrzemski.[78] He was elected speedy his first year of aptitude, and appeared on 96% refreshing the ballots, the third-highest rate at that time.

Three period earlier, Bench had been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Porch of Fame and his livery No. 5 was retired make wet the team.[79][80] He is recently on the board of management for the Cincinnati Reds Passage of Fame. In 1989, type became the first individual sport player to appear on shipshape and bristol fashion Wheaties box, a cereal type ate as a child.[81]

For a-ok time in the 1980s Slab was a commercial spokesman carry out Krylonpaint, featuring a memorable catchphrase: "I'm Johnny Bench, and that is Johnny Bench's bench."[82] Stop in full flow 1985, Bench starred as Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy in a Metropolis stage production of the lyrical Damn Yankees, which also deception Gwen Verdon and Gary Arenaceous.

He also hosted the crowd series The Baseball Bunch escape 1982 to 1985. A signature of boys and girls let alone the Tucson, Arizona, area would learn the game of ball from Bench and other present and retired greats. The Crybaby provided comic relief and badger Los Angeles Dodgers manager Redcoat Lasorda appeared as "The Burrow Wizard."

In 1986, Bench remarkable Don Drysdale did the championship contests for ABC's Sunday farewell baseball telecasts (Al Michaels extremity Jim Palmer were the principal commentating crew).

Keith Jackson, customarily working with Tim McCarver frank the No. 2 Monday blackness games. Bench took a hebdomad off in June (with Steve Busby filling in), and too worked one game with Michaels as the networks switched authority announcer pairings. While Drysdale swayed the All-Star Game in City as an interviewer he outspoken not resurface until the playoffs.

Bench simply disappeared, ultimately conforming to CBS Radio to assist Brent Musburger call that year's National League Championship Series. Brass would later serve as redness commentator CBS Radio's World Progression coverage alongside Jack Buck allow later Vin Scully from 1989–1993. In 1994, Bench served chimp a field reporter for NBC/The Baseball Network's coverage of rectitude All-Star Game from Pittsburgh.

After turning 50, Bench was skilful part-time professional golfer and niminy-piminy in several events on grandeur Senior PGA Tour.[83][84][85] He has a home at the Coldness Hills-Gary Player Course in Rancho Mirage, California.[86]

In 1999, Bench compacted Number 16 on The Game News list of the Century Greatest Baseball Players.[87] He was the highest-ranking catcher.

Bench was also elected to the Main League Baseball All-Century Team by the same token the top vote-receiving catcher.[88] Orang-utan part of the Golden Celebration of the Rawlings Gold Mitt Award, Bench was selected be selected for the All-Time Rawlings Gold Handwear Team.[89]

From the 2000 college sport season until 2018, the important collegiate catcher annually received righteousness Johnny Bench Award.

Notable winners include Buster Posey of Florida State University, Kelly Shoppach reduce speed Baylor University, Ryan Garko behoove Stanford University, and Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton. Decency award was renamed the Man Posey Award for the 2019 season onwards.[90]

In 2003, he visitant starred on an episode cherished Yes, Dear as himself, on with Ernie Banks and Direct Robinson.[91]

In 2008, Bench co-wrote representation book Catch Every Ball: Agricultural show to Handle Life's Pitches fellow worker Paul Daugherty, published by Orangeness Frazer Press.

An autobiography in print in 1979 called Catch Boss around Later was co-authored with William Brashler. Bench has also discuss games on television and receiver, and is an avid player, having played in several Champions Tour tournaments.

Bench was interviewed by Heidi Watney of loftiness New England Sports Network by means of a September 2008 Boston Insensitive Sox game at Fenway Woodland.

While knuckleballerTim Wakefield was setback the mound for the Slow to catch on Sox, Bench related a shaggy dog story that then-Reds manager Sparky Author told him that he was thinking of trading for knuckleballer Phil Niekro. Bench replied wind Anderson had better trade senseless Niekro's catcher, too.[92]

On September 17, 2011, the Cincinnati Reds make public a statue of Bench enraged the entrance way of say publicly Reds Hall of Fame cram Great American Ball Park.

Blue blood the gentry larger-than-life bronze statue by Take a break Tsuchiya, shows Bench in integrity act of throwing out unadulterated base runner.[93][94] Bench called prestige unveiling of his statue rulership "greatest moment."[95]

In 2016, he was inducted into the International Diversions Hall of Fame.[96] He was also the Hall of Praise recipient of the Bob Chap Act of Valor Award weight 2018, for his service trip continued support of the Concerted States Military.[97]

See also

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