Johnny Bench is a Hall of Fame baseball player and is considered one of the greatest catchers in the history of Major League Baseball. He spent his entire 17 year career with the Cincinnati Reds.

Johnny Bench was drafted in 1965 and called up to the majors in August of 1967. Bench became known for his defense as well as his hitting. He would win the NL Rookie of the year award in 1968 by batting .275 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs. His best year was in 1970 when he batted .293 with 45 home runs and 148 RBIs. In addition to winning many awards, Bench was a member of the "Big Red Machine" team that won the World Series in 1975 and 1976.

Bench is known for revolutionizing the catcher position. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 and his jersey number was retired by the Reds in that same year. Many consider him to be the greatest catcher in MLB history.

• Mahalo's Guide to Cincinnati Reds
• Baseball-Reference.com: Career Stats
  • Position: Catcher
  • Bats: Right
  • Throws: Right
  • Height: 6' 1"
  • Weight: 208 lbs.
  • Rookie Year: 1968
  • Retired: 1984

• December 7, 1947: Born in Oklahoma City, OK

• August 28, 1967: Debuts for the Cincinnati Reds

• 1968: National League Rookie of the Year

• 1970: National League MVP

• 1972: National League MVP

• 1984: Retires from Baseball

• 1989: Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame

• JohnnyBench.com: Collectibles

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