Bench, Johnny (1947-…), ranks among the greatest catchers in baseball history. Bench played his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds of the National League. He helped lead the Reds to six Eastern Division championships, four pennants, and two World Series victories, in 1975 and 1976. Bench was elected to the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1970 and 1972 and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Bench was known for both his hitting and his defensive skill. He led the National League in home runs with 45 in 1970 and 40 in 1972. He won 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards as best defensive catcher in the league. Bench was also durable, tying a major league record by catching at least 100 games each of his first 13 seasons. For his career, Bench played in 2,158 games, hitting .267 with 389 home runs.
Johnny Lee Bench was born on Dec. 7, 1947, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He joined the Reds in 1967 and was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1968, the first catcher to win the award. Bench retired after the 1983 season and became a sportscaster.
