Johnny bench biography amazon prime

American baseball player (born )

Baseball player

Johnny Bench
Bench c.&#;
Catcher
Born: () December 7, (age&#;77) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
August 28,&#;,&#;for the&#;Cincinnati Reds
September 29,&#;,&#;for the&#;Cincinnati Reds
Batting average
Hits	2,
Home runs
Runs batted in	1,
Stats at Baseball Reference&#;
Induction
Vote	% (first ballot)

Johnny Lee Bench (born December 7, ) is an American grass professional baseball player.

He moved his entire Major League Ballgame career, which lasted from make sure of , with the Cincinnati Reds, primarily as a catcher.^[1][2][3] Tableland was the leader of interpretation Reds team known as honesty Big Red Machine that submissive the National League in rectitude mids, winning six division awards, four National League pennants mushroom two World Series championships.^[4][5][6]

A fourteen-time All-Star and a two-time Formal League Most Valuable Player, Administration excelled on offense as swimmingly as on defense, twice cap the National League in straightforward runs and three times send down runs batted in.^[7] At loftiness time of his retirement lecture in , he held the elder league record for most make runs hit by a catcher.^[4] He was also the rule catcher in history to key the league in home runs.^[8] He hit 45 home runs in , which was cool single-season record for catchers awaiting Salvador Perez hit 48 mould ^[9] His home runs boss 1, runs batted in tarry the most in Cincinnati Reds history.^[10]

On defense, Bench was fine ten-time Gold Glove Award hero who skillfully handled pitching staffs and possessed a strong, precise throwing arm.^[7][11] He caught check on more games for 13 sequential seasons.^[4] In , Bench was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.^[4] He was inducted into the Baseball Passage of Fame in in sovereignty first year of eligibility.^[7]ESPN has called him the greatest position in baseball history.^[12]

Early life

Born limit raised in Oklahoma, Bench deterioration one-eighth Choctaw; he played sport and basketball and was assemblage valedictorian at Binger-Oney High Secondary in Binger.^[13] His father sonorous him that the fastest direction to becoming a major leaguer was as a catcher.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

As clever year-old, Bench was selected Thirtysixth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round a mixture of the amateur draft, playing give a hand the minor-league Buffalo Bisons wear the and seasons. During primacy season, he hit a famous slam against Jim Palmer, who would go on to conditions allow a grand slam barred enclosure 19 years in the Main Leagues.^[14][15]

Cincinnati Reds (–)

Bench was styled up to the Reds break down August ^[16] He hit one and only , but impressed many pass around with his defense and welldefined throwing arm, among them Passageway of FamerTed Williams.

Williams sign-language a baseball for him discipline predicted that the young position would be a "Hall worm your way in Famer for sure!"^[6][17] Williams' augury became fact 22 years consequent in when Bench was choose to Cooperstown.

During a emerge training game, Bench was contaminating right-handerJim Maloney, an eight-year adept.

Maloney was once a unchangeable thrower, but injuries had dramatically reduced the speed of authority fastball. Maloney nevertheless insisted attempt repeatedly "shaking off" his onetime catcher by throwing fastballs preferably of the breaking balls ensure Bench had called for. Just as an exasperated Bench bluntly be made aware Maloney, "Your fastball's not popping," Maloney replied with an appellation.

To prove to Maloney stroll his fastball was no individual effective, Bench called for smashing fastball, and after Maloney unconfined the ball, Bench dropped king catcher's mitt and caught grandeur fastball barehanded.^[5][18] Bench was influence Reds' catcher on April 30, , when Maloney pitched neat as a pin no hitter against the City Astros.^[19][20][21]

In , the year-old Organization impressed many in his labour full season;^[22] he won greatness National League Rookie of honourableness Year Award, batting with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs.

This marked the first leave to another time that the award had bent won by a catcher.^[1][6][23] Unquestionable also won the National Federation Gold Glove Award for catchers, which was the first put on ice that the award had anachronistic won by a rookie.^[1][24][25] Noteworthy made assists in , which marked the first time pull 23 years that a backstop had more than assists scam a season.^[26] During the War War, Bench served in interpretation United States Army Reserve restructuring a member of the be equal with Engineer Battalion, which was family unit across the Ohio River overexert Cincinnati at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

This unit included several grow mouldy his teammates, among them Pete Rose, Bobby Tolan and Darrel Chaney.^[27][28] In the winter confiscate – he was part do admin Bob Hope's USO Tour take away Vietnam.^[29]

s

In , Bench had consummate finest statistical season. At quote 22, he became the youngest player to win the Safe League Most Valuable Player Bestow.

He hit , led authority National League with 45 straightforward runs and a franchise-record runs batted in as the Reds won the NL West Division.^[1][5][30] The Reds swept the City Pirates in the National Foil Championship Series, but lost be required to the Baltimore Orioles in fin games in the World Series.^[31][32]

Bench had another strong year execute , winning the MVP Present for a second time.

Elegance led the National League layer home runs (40) and Tally () to help propel illustriousness Reds to another National Corresponding person West Division title and won the NL pennant in illustriousness deciding fifth game over integrity Pittsburgh Pirates.^[1][33] One of culminate more dramatic home runs^[34] was likely his ninth-inning, lead burst, opposite field home run summon that fifth NLCS game.^[35] Glory solo shot tied the distraction at three; the Reds won later in the inning bring to an end a wild pitch, 4–3.^[36][37] Different approach was hailed after the project as "one of the unexceptional clutch home runs of consummate time."^[38] However, the Reds left out the World Series to exceptional strong Oakland Athletics team dwell in seven games.^[39]

After the season, Tableland underwent surgery to remove fastidious lesion from his lung, pronouncement of concern that it firmness be cancerous.^[40][41] The lesion would prove to be benign even, Bench stated in an ask that he was never dignity same player after the remedy.

“They cut the ribs, they cut the bones, they reasoning the nerves, and so Crazed never was the same entertainer afterwards.”^[42] He remained productive, on the other hand never again hit 40 dwelling runs in a season.^[43]

In , Bench hit 25 home runs and RBI and helped integrity Reds rally from a &#;2-game deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early July simulate lead the majors with 99 wins and claim another NL West Division crown.

In rectitude NLCS, Cincinnati met a Virgin York Mets team that won the NL East with pull out all the stops unimpressive 82–79 () record, &#;2 games behind the Reds. Excellence Mets boasted three of nobility better starting pitchers in justness NL, future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, courier Jon Matlack.

Bench's bottom show signs of the ninth-inning home run bolt Seaver in the first diversion propelled the Reds to hurt somebody's feelings, but Seaver would get glory best of the Reds pivotal Bench in the deciding Enterprise 5, winning 7–2 to crash into the Mets into the False Series against the Oakland A's.^[44][45]

In , Bench led the foil with RBI and scored runs, becoming only the fourth position in major league history defer or more runs and Tally in the same season.

Say publicly Reds won the second-most conviviality in the majors (98) on the contrary lost the West Division stick to the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[46] Enclose , the Reds finally indigent through in the post opportunity ripe. Bench contributed 28 home runs and RBI.^[1][47][48] Cincinnati swept significance Pirates in three games unite win the NLCS, and shamefaced the Boston Red Sox wring a memorable seven-game World Series.^[49][50][51]

Bench struggled with ailing shoulders pointed , ^[52] and had figure out of his least productive existence, with only 16 home runs and 74 RBI.

He done with an excellent postseason, case with a 4-for () background in the NLCS sweep passing on the Philadelphia Phillies.^[1][53] The Globe Series provided a head-to-head match with the Yankees' all-star position, Thurman Munson. Bench rose raise the occasion, hitting with match up home runs, while Munson along with hit well, with a average.^[1][6][54] The Reds won in systematic four-game sweep and Bench was named the Series' MVP.^[1][55][56] Conflict the post-World Series press talk, Reds managerSparky Anderson was gratis by a journalist to tally Munson with his catcher.

Dramatist replied, "I don't want consent embarrass any other catcher toddler comparing him to Johnny Bench."^[57] Bench bounced back in discriminate hit 31 home runs obtain RBI but the Dodgers won two straight NL pennants. Character Reds reached the postseason reasonable once more in his vocation, in , but were relaxed in three straight in decency NLCS by the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[58]

s

For the last three seasons ferryboat his career, Bench moved disable from behind the plate, transmissible only 13 games, while at bottom becoming a corner infielder (first or third base).

The City Reds proclaimed Saturday, September 17, , "Johnny Bench Night" conflict Riverfront Stadium, in which pacify hit his th and ending home run, a line propel to left in the base inning, before a record crowd.^[59][60] He retired at the halt of the season at length of existence

MLB career statistics

Bench had 2, hits for a career batten average with home runs flourishing 1, RBI during his period Major League career, all dog-tired with the Reds.^[1] He solitary as the career home nudge leader for catchers, a write which stood until surpassed by means of Carlton Fisk and the contemporary record holder, Mike Piazza.^[35][61] Organization still holds the Major Combine record for the most celebrated slam home runs by keen catcher, with ^[62] In her highness career, Bench earned 10 Gilded Gloves, was named to say publicly National League All-Star team 14 times, and won two Leading Valuable Player Awards.^{[1][63][30][33]} He moneyed the National League three era in caught stealing percentage bracket ended his career with spiffy tidy up fielding percentage at catcher become peaceful an overall fielding percentage.^[1] Do something caught shutouts during his employment, ranking him 12th all-time mid major league catchers.^[64] Bench likewise won such awards as depiction Lou Gehrig Award (), loftiness Babe Ruth Award (), ground the Hutch Award ().^[65]

Bench non-professional the hinged catcher's mitt, chief introduced by Randy Hundley invoke the Chicago Cubs.^[6][66][67] He began using the mitt after unmixed stint on the disabled citation in for a thumb cut on his throwing hand.

Depiction mitt allowed Bench to pleat comestibles his throwing arm safely realize the side when receiving representation pitch.^[5] By the turn advice the decade, the hinged appendage became standard catchers' equipment. Acquiring huge hands (a famous characterization features him holding seven baseballs in his right hand^[68]), Establishment also tended to block down balls in the dirt saturate scooping them with one lunchhook instead of the more ordinary and fundamentally proper way: attack to both knees and block the ball using the kist protector to keep the abrupt in front.^[67]

Personal life

Bench has bent married five times.

Once hailed as "baseball's most-eligible bachelor," prohibited shed that distinction before justness season when he married Vickie Chesser, a toothpaste model who had dated Joe Namath. Cardinal days after they met, Food proposed, and they were united on February 21, ^[69][70] Loud, the pair realized they were incompatible, especially after Bench implicit that his wife accept Hustler magazine's offer for her come near pose nude for $25,^[71][72] They broke up at the kill of the season (Bench reportedly said to her, "Now I'm done with two things Unrestrainable hate: baseball and you"), divorcing after just 13 months.

"I tried. I even hand-squeezed red juice," Chesser told Phil Donahue in December "I don't ponder either of us had gauche idea what marriage was in point of fact like." After returning to Borough, Chesser said, "Johnny Bench run through a great athlete, a deficient everything else, and a come together tragedy as a person."^[73][74]

Before Yuletide , Bench married Laura Cwikowski, an Oklahoma City model deliver aerobics instructor.

They had expert son, Bobby Binger Bench (named after Bob Hope and Gendarme Knight, and Bench's hometown), beforehand divorcing in They shared search of their son. "He was, and is, a great dad," according to Bobby, who contortion in Cincinnati as a arrange operator on Reds broadcasts. Bench's third marriage, to Elizabeth Painter, took place in Johnny filed for divorce in on justification of marital infidelity.

His quaternary marriage took place in , to year-old Lauren Baiocchi, significance daughter of pro golfer Hugh Baiocchi. After living in Luence Springs with their two reading, Johnny wished to return give confidence South Florida, where he fleeting from to However, Lauren would not relocate to Florida, luminous to their divorce.

As warm , Bench has primary custodianship of their sons.^[75]

Bench was hitched for the fifth time add on March ^[76]

While still an strenuous MLB player, he made orderly cameo appearance as a Kings Island Inn poolside waiter subordinate "I Left My Heart derive Cincinnati," a Season 3 leaf of The Partridge Family which first aired on January 26, ^[77]

Honors and post-career activities

Bench was elected to the National Ballgame Hall of Fame in Town, New York, in alongside Carl Yastrzemski.^[78] He was elected unsubtle his first year of capability, and appeared on 96% raise the ballots, the third-highest proportion at that time.

Three time eon earlier, Bench had been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Passageway of Fame and his composed No. 5 was retired invitation the team.^[79][80] He is presently on the board of directorate for the Cincinnati Reds Fascinate of Fame. In , noteworthy became the first individual ballgame player to appear on exceptional Wheaties box, a cereal sand ate as a child.^[81]

For far-out time in the s Slab was a commercial spokesman pray for Krylonpaint, featuring a memorable catchphrase: "I'm Johnny Bench, and that is Johnny Bench's bench."^[82] Tackle , Bench starred as Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy in a City stage production of the dulcet Damn Yankees, which also star Gwen Verdon and Gary Yellowish-brown.

He also hosted the hug series The Baseball Bunch let alone to A cast of boys and girls from the Metropolis, Arizona, area would learn rendering game of baseball from Food and other current and isolated greats. The Chicken provided absurd relief and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda arised as "The Dugout Wizard."

In , Bench and Don Drysdale did the backup contests muddle up ABC's Sunday afternoon baseball telecasts (Al Michaels and Jim Wayfarer were the primary commentating crew).

Keith Jackson, usually working warmth Tim McCarver did the Maladroit thumbs down d. 2 Monday night games. Counter took a week off fall apart June (with Steve Busby wadding in), and also worked undeniable game with Michaels as class networks switched the announcer pairings. While Drysdale worked the All-Star Game in Houston as blueprint interviewer he did not come back until the playoffs.

Bench barely disappeared, ultimately going to CBS Radio to help Brent Musburger call that year's National Combination Championship Series. Bench would succeeding serve as color commentator CBS Radio's World Series coverage equidistant Jack Buck and later Vin Scully from – In , Bench served as a sphere reporter for NBC/The Baseball Network's coverage of the All-Star Affair from Pittsburgh.

After turning 50, Bench was a part-time office golfer and played in a few events on the Senior PGA Tour.^[83][84][85] He has a abode at the Mission Hills-Gary Performer Course in Rancho Mirage, California.^[86]

In , Bench ranked Number 16 on The Sporting News listing of the Greatest Baseball Players.^[87] He was the highest-ranking position.

Bench was also elected encircling the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote-receiving catcher.^[88] As part of loftiness Golden Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Bench was selected to the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team.^[89]

From the faculty baseball season until , influence best collegiate catcher annually traditional the Johnny Bench Award.

Noteworthy winners include Buster Posey characteristic Florida State University, Kelly Shoppach of Baylor University, Ryan Garko of Stanford University, and Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton. The award was renamed character Buster Posey Award for illustriousness season onwards.^[90]

In , he lodger starred on an episode remark Yes, Dear as himself, down with Ernie Banks and Direct Robinson.^[91]

In , Bench co-wrote probity book Catch Every Ball: In any way to Handle Life's Pitches become accustomed Paul Daugherty, published by Orangeness Frazer Press.

An autobiography publicised in called Catch You Later was co-authored with William Brashler. Bench has also broadcast party on television and radio, don is an avid golfer, receipt played in several Champions Cable tournaments.

Bench was interviewed unreceptive Heidi Watney of the Another England Sports Network during natty September Boston Red Sox affair at Fenway Park.

While knuckleballerTim Wakefield was on the knoll for the Red Sox, Tableland related a story that then-Reds manager Sparky Anderson told him that he was thinking model trading for knuckleballer Phil Niekro. Bench replied that Anderson abstruse better trade for Niekro's backstop, too.^[92]

On September 17, , nobleness Cincinnati Reds unveiled a build of Bench at the delivery way of the Reds Entry of Fame at Great Denizen Ball Park.

The larger-than-life brown statue by Tom Tsuchiya, shows Bench in the act describe throwing out a base runner.^[93][94] Bench called the unveiling outline his statue his "greatest moment."^[95]

In , he was inducted jounce the International Sports Hall short vacation Fame.^[96] He was also rectitude Hall of Fame recipient celebrate the Bob Feller Act identical Valor Award in , convey his service and continued strengthen of the United States Military.^[97]

See also

References