Johnny bench biography wikipedia

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He suffered from persistent knee pain and recurring wrist injuries. He would go on to win the Rookie of the Year award #Redspic.twitter.com/X76EBOUjDA

— Old-Time Baseball Photos (@OTBaseballPhoto) April 10, 2017

In the 1969 season, Bench caught Jim Maloney’s no-hitter against the Houston Astros and improved in every offensive category.

He slugged 26 home runs, racked up 90 RBI, and nearly hit .300 in a time when catchers were not typically great offensive players.

After just two full years in the big leagues, the young Bench was solidifying himself as one of baseball’s best catchers.

The 1970 season was a pivotal one for both Bench and the Reds.

In perhaps his best season, Bench won the N.L.

MVP and led the league in home runs with 45.

He hit .293 and drove in a whopping 148 runs.

The Reds rode Bench’s production to 102 wins and an N.L. West Division title.

The Reds dominated the powerhouse Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS on their way to their first N.L. championship since 1961.

Despite losing to the Baltimore Orioles in five games in the World Series that year, the infamous “Big Red Machine” was born and Bench was spearheading the charge along with teammates Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

Despite a spectacular 1970 campaign, the Reds faltered in 1971.

They won just 79 games and finished fourth in the tough N.L.

West.

Bench also cooled down considerably but still had a respectable season, hitting 27 home runs and continuing his dominance at the catcher position.

Looking to get back to the World Series, the Reds traded Lee May, Tommy Helms, and Denis Menke to the Astros for second baseman Joe Morgan, outfielders Cesar Geronimo and Ed Armbrister, and pitcher Jack Billingham in one of the most consequential trades in Major League Baseball history.

The addition of Morgan and Geronimo improved the Reds’ defense up the middle while Billingham and Armbrister added additional depth to an already-solid club.

Morgan became a superstar in his own right and joined Bench in spearheading an elite Cincinnati team that again made the World Series.

The 1972 Reds won 95 games on their way to another N.L.

West title while Bench won his second MVP in three years.

Bench hit 40 home runs with 125 RBI and hit a clutch game-tying home run in the 9th inning of Game Five of the NLCS, beating the Pirates once again.

The Reds won the N.L. title once again but fell to the Oakland Athletics in the World Series in a tense seven-game matchup.

While the Reds lost the World Series, the foundation for their eventual dominance in baseball had been set.

The Reds were greatly improved from their 1970 season with the addition of Morgan and Geronimo, and they had the best catcher in all of baseball in Bench.

In 1974, Bench caught 160 games and hit 33 home runs, leading the league in RBI with 129.

How good was Johnny Bench's 1974 season?

Led NL in RBI and Total Bases

.313/.408/.585 w/ runners on
.326/.392/.689 in Hi-Leverage PA
20 of 33 HR came when tied or Reds behind

6 HR 24 RBI .293/.392/.538 in September as CIN chased LA for NL West crown

Gold Glove Catcher pic.twitter.com/uo4i8yawxO

— Bases.Outs.Runs (@old_analytics) June 23, 2022

The Reds’ 98 wins were not enough to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, and the season ended with Bench and the Reds watching the postseason at home.

By the time the 1975 season began, Bench had cemented himself as the best catcher in the game, combining his elite defense and game-calling with immense power and hitting ability, especially for a catcher.

The Reds went into the season sporting one of the best lineups in the history of baseball with Bench as the centerpiece.

With Bench in the middle of the potent Reds lineup in 1975, the team became a nearly unstoppable force in the National League.

Bench hit 28 home runs behind players like Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, who were on base more often than not.

The team won a staggering 108 games on their way to another showdown with the Pirates in the NLCS.

Once again defeating the Pirates en route to the World Series, the Reds faced off against the 95-win Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox were looking to win their first World Series since 1918 while the Reds were determined to overcome their World Series defeats in 1970 and 1972.

In one of the most iconic World Series of all time, the Reds won a thrilling victory in Game Seven after Carlton Fisk’s infamous walk-off home run in Game Six.

Bench hit just .207 with one home run in the Series but took home his first championship ring.

The 1976 season was more of the same for Cincinnati as they rammed through the National League with ease, finishing the season with 102 wins and another National League championship after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS.

Bench was not a major part of the success, however, as he dealt with shoulder injuries the entire season and had one of the least productive seasons of his storied career.

While his defense remained outstanding, Bench played in just 135 games, his lowest total since he became the Reds’ starting catcher in the late 1960s.

His shoulders caused his power to diminish and he hit just 16 home runs and a disappointing .234.

Despite having a season marred by injury and underperformance at the plate, Bench turned it on in the postseason and was an integral part of the Reds taking home their second World Series in a row.

He went on to go 4-for-12 in the NLCS and hit over .500 in the World Series with two home runs as the Reds swept the 97-win New York Yankees.

After the series, Reds manager Sparky Anderson commented:

“When Johnny Bench was born, I believe God came down and touched his mother on the forehead and said ‘I’m going to give you a son who will be one of the greatest baseball players ever seen.”

Bench had another fantastic season in 1977, winning his 10th Gold Glove Award and hitting over 30 home runs once again.

He was healthy again but the Reds failed to make the postseason coming off back-to-back World Series wins.

This was Bench’s last monster season as injuries and wear and tear from catching every day were beginning to catch up with the veteran backstop.

The Big Red Machine era was also coming to a close.

Bench remained, becoming one of the last Big Red Machine icons still around by the time the decade came to a close.

Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Bench began to play less at catcher and spent more time at third and first base as the Reds tried to preserve his potent bat and give him some rest.

While the Reds were not the team they once were, Bench remained a productive player and a beloved star in Cincinnati and the baseball world.

As the 1970s came to a close and the 1980s began, Bench’s performance began to wane, and he spent more and more time at first base and third base.

In his final two seasons, 1982 and 1983, he was the Reds’ full-time third baseman but struggled defensively and was just mediocre with the bat.

He announced his retirement from the game of baseball in 1983 after a remarkable 17-year career with the Reds.

#OTD in 1983, Johnny Bench announced his retirement (effective at season's end).

Below is a comprehensive bio-wiki table for Johnny Bench based on information available up to 2024:

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Johnny Lee Bench
Date of Birth	December 7, 1947
Current Age	76 years old
Nationality	American
Religion	Christianity
Famous For	Being a Hall of Fame baseball catcher, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds
Family	– Parents: Gus and Emma Bench
– Siblings: Has a brother and a sister
– Children: Has two children, a son and a daughter
Education	– High School: Binger High School (Graduated in 1965)
– College: University of Oklahoma (attended briefly before going pro)
Physical Stats	– Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
– Weight: Approximately 210 lbs (95 kg)
Spouse/Partner	– Current Spouse: Lauren Baiocchi (married in 2016)
– Previous Spouses: 1) Vickie Deloatch (1975–1990) 2) Melissa McCarthy (1992–1997)
Hobbies	– Golf
– Fishing
– Cooking
Awards	– 2× World Series Champion (1975, 1976)
– 14× All-Star (1967–1980, 1982)
– 2× National League MVP (1969, 1970)
– Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989
Net Worth	Estimated around $5 million (2024)
Social Media Profiles	– Twitter: @JohnnyBench5
– Instagram: @johnny_bench
– Facebook: JohnnyBenchOfficial

Please note that the information provided is based on publicly available data and may not be entirely exhaustive.

His talent earned him the Rookie of the Year Award in 1968.

Peak of Success: A Hall of Famer

Bench's peak years spanned from 1967 to 1983. Always refer to official sources for the most accurate and updated details.

Johnny Bench Biography

Johnny Bench is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in the history of baseball.

In 2008, he published his autobiography, "Catch Every Ball," which detailed his life and aspirations.

Filmography: A Star on and off the Field

Bench also ventured into acting, appearing in films and television shows such as "The Partridge Family," "Mission: Impossible," "Cincinnati: Just Around the Corner," and "Married... He quickly established himself as a formidable player, showcasing his powerful hitting and exceptional defensive skills.

Bench’s commitment to fitness has allowed him to remain active and engaged in his post-baseball life.

Career Timeline

Johnny Bench’s career in Major League Baseball (MLB) began in 1967, when he was signed by the Cincinnati Reds. Beyond baseball, Bench has also worked as a broadcaster and author, contributing to the game’s popularity and influence.

Quick Bio

Sure!

@JohnnyBench_5#Reds#BaseBallpic.twitter.com/RYUQRbMdmr

— Custom⚾️Baseball (@custom_baseball) June 10, 2021

Upon his retirement, Bench was considered by many to be the best catcher to ever play Major League Baseball due to his dominant defense behind the plate and his elite offensive production for over a decade.

The Reds won two World Series and appeared in four during Bench’s tenure, only helping to propel Bench and his storied career into the Hall of Fame.

Life After Baseball

Johnny Bench retired from the game of baseball with an impressive 75 wins above replacement and 389 home runs, both the most for a catcher in the history of Major League Baseball.

A 14-time All-Star, Bench collected over 2,000 hits and won 10 Gold Gloves.

He was named the National League’s MVP twice.

He is still considered by most to be the best catcher in Major League history.

Bench was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1989 with 96% of the vote.

In 1986, the Reds retired Bench’s number 5 and inducted him into their team Hall of Fame.

In 2008, the Reds once again honored Bench by erecting a bronze statue of him in front of Great American Ballpark.

In his post-career, Bench has appeared in numerous commercials and marketing campaigns.

He became the first individual baseball player to appear on a box of Wheaties cereal in 1989 and became a spokesman for Krylon, a paint company.

Always involved in the game of baseball in one way or another, Bench spent much of the latter part of the 1980s broadcasting nationally televised baseball games, filling in in a number of roles as an analyst.

He worked for CBS for nine years and called games ranging from the All-Star game to the National League Championship Series and other important games throughout the season.

In addition to being elected into the Hall of Fame, Bench has received numerous accolades from various organizations.

From 2000 to 2018, the award for the best catcher in college baseball was named the Johnny Bench Award.

Along with some of baseball’s all-time great players, Bench was named to the All-Century Team as the number one catcher, ahead of legendary Yankee and pop culture icon Yogi Berra.

Bench is also involved in numerous health organizations and charities, raising awareness for organizations including the American Lung Association, the Heart Association, and the Kidney Foundation.

An avid golfer, Bench has appeared in numerous PGA tournaments as a participant in the Senior Golf Tour.

He also founded the Johnny Bench Classic, an annual golf tournament that takes place in Florida.

Conclusion

It is not hard to see why Johnny Bench is widely considered the greatest catcher in baseball history.

Elite defense, dominant offense, a lengthy career, and postseason success have all contributed to Bench’s legacy.

A Cincinnati icon, Bench remains revered and still sells plenty of jerseys in the city.

Bench is an excellent ambassador for the game of baseball and remains one of the most influential players to ever play the game.

The once young Oklahoman who dreamed of playing in the big leagues since he first saw Mickey Mantle play in the 1950s made his dream come true and then some.

Johnny Bench is and will remain one of the most impactful players to ever play the game.

References:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/benchjo01.shtml

https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/bench-johnny

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/johnny-bench/

https://johnnybench.com/

https://baseball.fandom.com/wiki/Johnny_Bench

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johnny-Bench

https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/b/bench-johnny-1984

https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bench-johnny