Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Benchis an American former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships. ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history...
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth7 December 1947
catch everybody high knew played school scouts starting supposed until watch
I played American Legion ball starting when I was 14. But I didn't catch until I was 17. I was 75-3 as a high school pitcher, but it was like everybody knew that I was supposed to be a catcher. When the scouts would come around, and I was pitching, they'd make me take infield practice so the scouts could watch me throw.
believe box delivered died failing home lived newspaper people scared score week
It was not me failing that I was scared of. It was failing those people back home who believe in you. They only delivered the newspaper once a week where I lived in Oklahoma, and those people lived and died with the box score of my games.
absolutely ask foster four george gold good guy hitter joe ken morgan won
Joe Morgan was the one guy that absolutely put our team really over the top. ... Then we had George Foster come in; Ken Griffey Sr. was as good a two-place hitter as there has ever been in the game, and Cesar Geronimo won four Gold Glove awards. I mean, how could you ask for a better team?
trying
You have to be the one setting your own goals, trying to achieve those goals.
bubble finally gum picture
The most validating thing was when my picture was on my first bubble gum card. That was in '68 for me. I was finally on the Topps card.
face throwing
I never got to face Guidry, ... and the only way I want to face him is if he's throwing underhand.
winning oklahoma games
They only delivered the newspaper once a week where I lived in Oklahoma, and those people lived and died with the box score of my games. My biggest moment was winning the World Series because everyone in my town was able to feel he was a world champion.
player horny bars
I've seldom seen a horny player walk into a bar and not let out exactly what he did for a living.
expectations yeah i-can
So, yeah, I can say I always set my expectations so high that I had a lot to live up to.
good-as-it-gets pudge wells
Well, you know, Pudge Rodriguez, obviously is as good as it gets.
mean player eras
You know, when you can play with the greatest players of that particular era, you look forward to going to the ballpark. I mean, you thought it was great to be there in the clubhouse. You thought it was great to be on the field.
sports thinking comeback
I was thinking about making a comeback, until I pulled a muscle vacuuming.
fighting wind games
Jimmy Connors plays two tennis matches and winds up with $850,000, and Muhammad Ali fights for one bout and winds up with five million bucks. Me, I play 190 games--if you count exhibitions -- and I'm overpaid!
catchers middle
The catcher is in the middle of everything. He sees it best.