Johnny Bench biography

 Johnny Bench biography

Johnny Bench, in full Johnny Lee Bench, (born December 7, 1947, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.), American skilled baseball participant who, in 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds of the National League, established himself as one of many recreation’s best catchers. He gained 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1968–77) and had an distinctive throwing arm. Bench was a grasp at blocking dwelling plate from base runners, and he popularized the now-standard model of catching one-handed.

Bench was signed to a contract with the Reds in 1965 and performed with its minor league groups till he moved as much as the Reds late within the 1967 season. From 1968, when he was chosen National League Rookie of the Year (the primary catcher ever so named from both league), he was the staff’s common catcher, although within the early Eighties he caught much less and at last switched to enjoying third base. Bench led the league in runs batted in (1970, 1972, and 1974) and in dwelling runs (1970 and 1972). Together with Pete Rose and Joe Morgan, he helped lead the Reds to 4 World Series (1970, 1972, 1975, and 1976), two of which the Reds gained (1975 and 1976). Bench’s biggest efficiency was within the 1976 collection, through which he batted .533. At his retirement in 1983, he held the file for essentially the most dwelling runs by a catcher, 327, a mark subsequently damaged by Carlton Fisk. (Bench’s profession whole for dwelling runs is 389, however solely 327 of these runs had been hit whereas he was catching.) Bench was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

After retiring from skilled play, Bench labored as a radio and tv announcer. He additionally competed in a number of senior golf occasions. Bench cowrote the autobiography Catch You Later (1979; with William Brashler) and Catch Every Ball: How to Handle Life’s Pitches (2008; with Paul Daugherty).